AIM: How did geography encourage the rise of civilization in Mesopotamia?

DO NOW:

(1) I am a group of people working together to create an organized society _________________

(2) I am the geographic feature where early people settled _______________

(3) I am two features of a civilization that helps to bring people together ____________ & ______________

civilization

River valleys

Writing system infrastructure

HW: Discuss the importance of water to the people of the Middle East. How has climate and topography of the Middle East effect how people lived?

1. What two rivers run through the Fertile Crescent?

2. Which two river valley civilizations are shown on this map?

3. In what present day country is Mesopotamia located?

Tigris & Euphrates Rivers

Egypt & Mesopotamia

Iraq

*NOTES*

ANCIENT MESOPOTAMIA (4000 B.C.)

“land in between the rivers”

Why was this a perfect place for the 1st civilization?

1. Fertile Crescent - large arc of fertile land in the Middle East

2. Tigris & Euphrates Rivers made it possible for farming

3. Cattle, pigs, goats & sheep were accessible

*NOTES*

WHAT CHALLENGES DID PEOPLE FACE IN MESOPOTAMIA?

1. Unpredictable floods destroyed crops, homes & people

2. Some areas were marshy and unsuitable for farming

3. This land was vulnerable to attack and invasion

Religions have attempted to build their sanctuaries on prominent heights. Since no such natural heights were available in the flat flood plains of Mesopotamia (modern Iraq), ancient priests and kings determined to build ziggurats, square or rectangular artificial stepped temple platforms. Functionally, temples were placed on raised platforms to give them prominence over other buildings in a city, and to allow more people to watch the services performed at the temple. Symbolically, however, the ziggurat represents the cosmic mountain on which the gods dwell. The priests ascent up the stairway to the temple at the top of the ziggurat represents the ascent to heaven. The great ziggurat at Khorsabad, for example, had seven different stages; each was painted a different color and represented the five known planets, the moon, and the sun.

WHAT DOES THIS PASSAGE REVEAL ABOUT THE RELIGIOUS BELIEF OF PEOPLE IN MESOPOTAMIA?

ZIGGURATS

BABYLONIAN ZIGGURAT

*NOTES*

THE MANY PEOPLE OF MESOPOTAMIA:

1. Sumerians (ancient Sumer’s city-states)

(3000 B.C. - 1800 B.C.)

2. Babylonians (Babylonian Empire)

( 1800 B.C. - 1200 B.C.

3. Assyrians (Assyrian Empire)

(1200 B.C. - 539 B.C.)

4. Persians (Persian Empire)

(539 B.C. - 330 B.C.)