1. Bellwork
EQ4: How did physical location lead to the success and development of the Fertile Valley Civilizations?
The physical location of Mesopotamia led to its development and success because it was located in the Fertile Crescent, an area in Southwest Asia that had very rich soil. Mesopotamia was also surrounded by two rivers, the Tigris and the Euphrates. These rivers deposited rich silt, which made the soil good for planting crops and raising animals. The rivers also provided drinking water and other forms of food such as fish.

2. EQ #5:
What are the characteristics and accomplishments of the Fertile Crescent civilizations?

3. Word Wall Words rural urban city-state empire polytheism monotheism
Judaism
religion
Torah
occupation
social hierarchy
impact
epic
barter
monarchy
cuneiform
ziggurat
Hammurabi’s Code
government

4. The World’s First Civilization
The Rise of Sumer
The World’s First Civilization

5. The Development of An Advanced Society
Sumerians –
Nomadic
Village
City-state
Farming
City

6. What is a civilization?
Civilization - a culture marked by developments in arts, sciences, government, and social structure ; the stage of cultural development at which writing and the keeping of written records is attained

7. The City-States of Sumer
Made up of both rural and urban areas
The amount of countryside controlled by each city-state depended on its military strength.
Fought each other to gain more farmland
Built walls around cities for greater protection

8. The Structure of a City-State

9. The Religion of Sumer
Religion was part of every aspect of Sumerian life.
Practiced polytheism – believed in many gods
air, water, wisdom, war and love, sun and moon
Each city-state was focused on one god
Believed that gods had enormous power
Everyone had a duty to serve and worship the gods
Priests-performed religious ceremonies; talked to the gods for the people
Believed gods lived in ziggurat

10. Sumerian Social Order Social hierarchy kings priests slaves
craftspeople, merchants, traders
farmers and laborers
slaves

11. Men and Women of Sumer men women
had political power
made laws
military
women
home
children
Usually men were educated, but some upper-class women received educations.

12. Sumerian Achievements
Cuneiform – the first form of writing; originally developed for business records
uses pictographs combined to relate ideas
Scribes – writer; hired to keep list of items people traded – eventually used for everything
Sumerian students went to school to learn to read and write

13. Cuneiform

14. Sumerian Achievements Continued
Epics
Gilgamesh
Wheel
Plow
Irrigation
Calendar
Medicine
Architecture
Jewelry
Metal weapons
Musical instruments