2. Neolithic Era Literally means “New Stone Age” Began roughly 9500 BC
Began in the Middle East
Mesopotamia
Fertile Crescent
Agriculture and
Domesticated animals

3. Neolithic Era
THINK PAIR SHARE
Why do you think anthropologists believe this to be the most important development in human history??

4. Neolithic Era
What a Neolithic village may have looked like.

5. Neolithic Revolution Revolutionary shift in Human Subsistence!
No more hunting and gathering!
Food became more abundant
Populations began increasing
Cities began to form
More grains + more milk + more
Wool + more meat = More people
Able to survive!

6. Neolithic Era Small clusters of people became Villages
Villages became cities.
This is a vital step in the development of civilization
Earliest cities were:
Jericho, Catal Huyuk, Uruk, Eridu, Ur
Civilizations began forming throughout the world
Cultural Hearths

7. Civilizations What is a cultural hearth?
Culture = the way of life a group of people follow
Hearth = a vital and creative center

8. Civilizations Complex Culture 6 Characteristics of a Civilization
Cities
Governments
Religion
Social structures
Writing
Art

9. Civilizations Cities Government Religion Social Structure Writing Art
Food becomes more abundant, people live closer to each other
Government
Regulate and organize human activity
Religion
Explain forces of nature and roles in the world
Social Structure
Based on economic power
Writing
Keep accurate records, creative expression
Art
Architects, painters and sculptors,

10. Mesopotamia Mesopotamian Civilization Three general areas Sumerians
Assyria, Akkad, Sumer (pg. 15)
Sumerians
Creators of Mesopotamian civilization

11. Mesopotamia Civilization in the Fertile Crescent City States
Between Tigris and Euphrates Rivers
City States
A state with political control over the surrounding countryside
Eridu, Ur, Uruk

12. Mesopotamia Sumerians used mud bricks to build Temple
They invented the Arch and the Dome
Temple
Most important building in the city
Massive stepped tower
Ziggurat
Priests and Priestesses
Temple on a
Ziggurat

13. Mesopotamia Economy Principally agriculture Industry Trade
Metalwork, textiles, etc.
Trade
Invention of wheel in 3000 B.C. helped

14. Civilization into Empires
Sumerians!
First Empire
“A Large political unit or state, usually under a single leader, that controls many peoples or territories.” (pg.48)
Created the wheel
Created units of time
Cuneiform
First writing
Polytheistic
Worshipped many gods

15. Mesopotamia Three Classes Nobles Commoners Slaves Royalty, Priests
Farmers, Merchants, Fishermen, Craftspeople
90% of Sumerians were farmers
Slaves
Worked on Buildings

16. Civilizations into Empires
Akkadians (2300BC – 2150BC)
Sargon conquered Sumerians
Used a strong military
Empire included all of Mesopotamia
Naram-Sin
King of 4 corners of universe
Empire fell by 2150BC
This returned region to city states

17. Civilizations into Empires
Babylonian Empire
1792BC
Hammurabi
Leader in Babylon, a city state south of Akkad
Strong military
Axes and Daggers and Spears, oh my!!
Hammurabi’s Code (1st codified law)
System of strict justice
Eye of an eye, tooth for a tooth
Accountability (officials, judges, builders, etc.)
Marriage laws (page 50)

18. Civilizations into Empires
Phoenicians (Purple People)
Created an alphabet
Used by the Greeks, then the Romans, now us!
Great ship builders
Empire based on trade $$$

19. Civilizations into Empires
Israelites
Lived South of the Phoenicians
Minor factor in politics, but had a huge influence on religion
Judaism—Monotheistic
Migrated from Mesopotamia to Canaan
Under King David, ruled Israel
Capital Jerusalem

21. Civilizations into Empires
David’s son, Solomon
Israel reached its height of power
Massive armies, good economy
Built temple in Jerusalem
Viewed as symbolic center of religion

22. Civilizations into Empires
Under King Judah
In 720 BC, Assyrians conquered Israel
The Israelites scattered (10 lost tribes)
In 586, the Chaldeans destroyed Jerusalem
Remaining Israelites sent to Babylon
Babylon conquered by Persians
Ended Babylonian captivity

23. Civilizations into Empires
Assyrians (700 B.C.)
Northern Tigris River
Very Powerful –Use of
Iron weaponry
Lasted less than 100 years
Conquered by Chaldeans
in 612 B.C.
Internal conflicts led to
downfall

24. Civilizations into Empires
Assyrians
Really good at conquering, not so good at ruling
Army consisted of hundreds of thousands of soldiers
Cavalry was strength of army
Used terror tactics
Used Guerilla warfare
Able to lay siege to castles as well
Laid wasted to fields, trees, water supplies, etc.