1. Ancient Civilizations
Mesopotamia

2. Civilization A complex society
Cities
Organized government
Art, religion, classes
Writing system
How has this civilization influenced us today?

3. Earliest known civilization
What is current day Iraq
Southern part
Between Tigris and Euphrates Rivers

4. Mesopotamia Land between the rivers
Part of the fertile crescent – Mediterranean to Persian Gulf

5. Geography Around 3500 bce In Middle East (between Europe and Asia)
Between the Tigress and Euphrates Rivers
Hot dry climate
Rivers flood in spring and leave behind rich soil for farming
Area called Sumer in southern Mesopotamia

6. Religion Polytheistic Built temples – ziggurat
Gods blessed crops
Each god had power over a natural force or human activity (e.g. flooding or basket weaving)
Built temples – ziggurat
Priests and priestesses were powerful

7. Achievements Built dams and channels to control flooding of the rivers
Irrigation
Cuneiform writing
Epic of Gilgamesh
Inventions
Wagon wheel
Plow
Sailboat
Mathematical ideas

8. Achievements continued
Created number system
60 minute hour
60 second minute
360 degree circle
Astronomy
12 month calendar
Assyrians
Erected large temples and palaces
Wall carvings and statues
Produced and collected literature – first library

9. More Achievements Chaldeans Hittites City of Babylon Hanging Gardens
Astronomers
First sundial
Seven-day week
Hittites
iron

10. Politics Sumer Akkadians attacked under Sargon (2340 bce)
City states developed
Priests may have ruled
Akkadians attacked under Sargon (2340 bce)
First empire
Hammurabi created Babylonian Empire (present day Bagdhad
Created law code
Assyrians – 1,000 years after Hammurabi
Large well organized army
Strong rulers
Built roads

11. Politics continued
Cruel treatment under the Assyrians led to rebellions
Chaldeans captured Ninevah 612 bce ended Assyrian empire
Nebuchadnezzar leader

12. Economics Sumer Chaldeans Farmers
Traded wheat and barley for copper, tin and timber
Men head of household/women could buy and sell property and own businesses
Chaldeans
Babylon became the world’s largest and richest city
Traveling merchants - caravans

13. Social Structures