1. MESOPOTAMIA OUR EARLIEST CIVILIZATION

2. “Pay head to the word of your mother as though it were the word of a god.” ---------Sumerian proverb

3. The People From C. Asia From C. Asia Arrived about 3500 BC Arrived about 3500 BC Settled in lower part of twin river valley Settled in lower part of twin river valley Dark haired, light skinned people Dark haired, light skinned people Language close to one by Caspian Sea Language close to one by Caspian Sea

4. The Fertile Crescent --geography--

5. Geography Between Tigris & Euphrates Rivers Between Tigris & Euphrates Rivers Today’s Iraq & Kuwait Today’s Iraq & Kuwait “mesopotamia”= “between two rivers” (Greek) “mesopotamia”= “between two rivers” (Greek) Floods made soil rich Floods made soil rich Rivers allowed for irrigation Rivers allowed for irrigation

6. The Twin Rivers Did not supply balanced amounts of water Did not supply balanced amounts of water too dry or too wet (flooding) Villagers had to work together to survive Villagers had to work together to survive Built dams & escape channels, canals & ditches Built dams & escape channels, canals & ditches Considered world’s first cities! Considered world’s first cities!

8. Sumerian Civilization (World’s 1 st Cities!) 3500—2300BC Very few natural resources Built bricks of mud and water Region prospered from trade with others Used rivers & 1st wheeled vehicles

10. Government Lived in City-states City-states= independent city and its surrounding lands (20,000- 250,000 pop) Each had own culture, language, religion, & government CITIES URERECHKISHLAGASH

12. Kings As city-states had battles---courageous war leaders evolved into kings As city-states had battles---courageous war leaders evolved into kings Military leader and high priests ruled together Military leader and high priests ruled together Then evolved into a THEOCRACY Then evolved into a THEOCRACY Kings duties: Kings duties: 1. supervise farming 2. Enforce laws 3. Set penalties 4. Led religious ceremonies

13. Social classes 1. Ruling Family (theocracy with King!) (theocracry= religious government) 2. Officials & priests 3. Middle class (merchants & artisans) 4. Peasant farmers 5. Slaves

15. Job specialization Not everyone had to farm now Not everyone had to farm nowEXAMPLES 1. Mathematics– measuring, surveying, calculating slopes and water flow patterns 2. Astronomy- observing movements of moon for lunar calendar (28day months) 3. Temple workers– weavers, carpenters, singers 4. Traveling merchants—donkey caravans, sailboats on Persian Gulf

17. Religion Polytheistic Polytheistic Nature gods Nature gods City-states each had own main gods City-states each had own main gods Kings were religious leaders too Kings were religious leaders too Gods behaved like ordinary people Gods behaved like ordinary people INANNA= life-giving goddess NANNA= moon god

18. Priesthood Religion endured 3,000years Religion endured 3,000years 3,000 deities=every realm of nature/human endeavor (even plows, picks and molds) 3,000 deities=every realm of nature/human endeavor (even plows, picks and molds) Gods not equal Gods not equal Top gods= heaven, air, earth and water Top gods= heaven, air, earth and water Supreme god= An (ruler of heavens) Supreme god= An (ruler of heavens) Had human emotions Had human emotions Communicated through omens (shape of liver of sacrificed sheep etc.) Communicated through omens (shape of liver of sacrificed sheep etc.)

20. Religion Not hopeful Not hopeful People molded of clay to serve gods as slaves People molded of clay to serve gods as slaves Failure to serve= catastrophe Failure to serve= catastrophe People were fearful and anxious People were fearful and anxious Benefit to the priests and temples Benefit to the priests and temples The many offerings made temples grandest places The many offerings made temples grandest places

21. Ziggurat Pyramid-temples in each city Pyramid-temples in each city Only priests could enter– shrine on top Only priests could enter– shrine on top

23. Writing Oldest in world Cunneiform Evolved from wedge shaped pictograms to script Wrote on clay tablets, had schools

25. Sumerian Inventions! Wheeled vehicles Wheeled vehicles Arch Arch Potters wheel Potters wheel Sundial for time Sundial for time # system based on 60 # system based on 60 Algebra/geometry Algebra/geometry 12 month calendar (moon cycles) 12 month calendar (moon cycles) Bronze from copper and tin Bronze from copper and tin Metal plow Metal plow Writing Writing Beaurcracy in government Beaurcracy in government

26. “Tell a lie; then if you tell the truth, it will be deemed a lie.” --Sumerian proverb

27. The End of Sumer Region is constantly invaded– revived – and Re-invaded Invaders and Empires 1. Akkadians (Semites) 2300BC—1 st empire 2. Babylonians1790BC (Hebrew people enslaved) 3. Assyrians 1100BC 4. Persians 539 BC