Chapter 1- Section 2Mesopotamian Civilization

Three Focuses:1. Locate and describe the Mesopotamian

civilization in the valley of the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers.

2. Analyze the geographic, political, economic, religious and social structures of early Meso. Civilization.

3. Discuss Sumerian contributions, including the invention of writing.

Key Words

• civilization- complex societies with organized governments, art, religion, classes and writing

• irrigation-walls, waterways and ditches used to bring water to fields

• city-state-independent state made up of a city and surrounding land and villages

• artisan-skilled craftsperson• cuneiform-Sumerian system of writing made of

wedge-shaped markings

Key Words

• scribe-record keeper• empire-group of territories or nations under a

single ruler or government • complex-having many parts, details, ideas or

functions• consist-what something is made up of• code-systems of principles or rules• Ziggurat- grand temple-mountain of god or hill

heaven

Why were River Valleys important?

• Good farming conditions made it easy to feed large numbers of people.

• Rivers made it easy to get from one place to another which developed trade and the spread of ideas

• Rivers provided fish and freshwater.

Tigris and Euphrates

The Rise of Sumer

• The earliest known civilization located on a flat plain between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers.

• This area later was called Mesopotamia by the Greeks (land between the rivers)

• Flooding left rich soil for farming and led to development of irrigation. (Fertile Crescent)

What Were City-States?

• Cities that had independent governments. This came about because they were isolated.

• Sumerian city-states often went to war against each other.

Gods and Rulers

• Sumerians believed in many gods• Tried hard to please gods• Priests/Priestesses of the grand temple, or

ziggurat were VERY powerful• In later years Kings ran govt., led armies and

organized building projects.

Ziggurat

Sumerian Priest/Priestess

What Was Life Like in Sumer?

• People lived in mud-brick houses and farmed.• Some were artisans and traders.• People were divided into 3 social classes.– Upper: kings, priests, warriors, govt. officials– Middle: merchants, artisans, farmers, fishers– Enslaved people who worked on farms or in

temples.

Life in Sumer

• Men and women had specific roles– Men: headed households, decided who children

would marry, went to school– Women: could buy and sell property and run

businesses

A Skilled People

• They invented writing cuneiform.• Boys from wealthy families learned to write

and after years of training became scribes.• Invented Literature-first is the Epic of

Gilgamesh

Cuneiform

Scribe

A Skilled People

• They developed irrigation systems, wagon wheels, plows and sailboats.

A Skilled People

• Developed mathematical ideas• Studied plants and stars • Developed a calendar

Sargon and Hammurabi

• Sumeria was conquered by the Akkadians whose king was Sargon. Sargon set up the first empire. It lasted more than 200 years.

• The Babylonian king was Hammurabi who was best known for his code of laws. While some of the laws seemed cruel, they were an important step toward a fair system of justice.

Hammurabi/Babylon

Sargon/Akkadia

Activity-Think, Pair, Share

• Read Hammurabi’s Laws on p. 140-141• With a partner decide which were Fair and

which were Cruel.• Create a graphic organizer in your spiral like

this.

Hammurabi’s Laws

Fair CruelLaw # Law #

Law # Law #

Law # Law #

Law # Law #

Quiz

• Why did civilization in Mesopotamia begin in the valleys of the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers?

• How did Sumerians contribute to later people?

• Why did Sumerian city-states lose power and who did they lose it to?