Ancient Civilizations Mesopotamia

The

Sta

rt of M

eso

po

tam

ia

• Early humans traveled to find food

– When food became scarce, they moved

• As they moved they followed the

coasts/rivers, to be close to water

• Soon they traveled through the area

of the Middle East (5000 BCE)

– Found a very fertile area known as the

“Fertile Crescent”

– Present day Iraq

• Area was fertile due to 2 major rivers

that emptied into the Persian Gulf

Ge

og

rap

hy o

f Me

sop

ota

mia

Ch

ara

cte

ristics o

f Fe

rtile C

resc

en

t

• Two major rivers

– Euphrates to the West

– Tigris to the East

• Area between named Mesopotamia

(c. 3100-529 BCE)

– Comes from Greek term meaning

“between the rivers”

• Many small cities form close to the

Persian Gulf

– They later spread further away due to

growing populations

Imp

orta

nc

e o

f Ge

og

rap

hy

• One of the earliest known cities-states: Sumer (2900 BCE)

– City-states- an area that was ruled like

separate states

– Early example of an advanced civilization

– Strong government, laws, economy

• Rivers provided only real water to Sumer – Positives

• Fertile land allowed crops to grow

• Deposited silt- rich soil from bottom of riverbeds

– Negatives • Rivers flooded unpredictably; thousands died

• Area of Sumer was small (size of Massachusetts)

• Area lacked other vital natural resources

Disc

ussio

n

• What technology did the Sumerians

utilize that would help lessen the

negative consequences discussed

previously?

Imp

orta

nc

e o

f Ge

og

rap

hy

• Problem Solving at Its Best – People of Sumer utilized new

technologies • Dug irrigation canals to control water

– Also spread the amount of farmable land

• Built walls to protect the cities from invaders

• Traded for resources needed w/ other cities

– Traded grain and cloth for wood, metal, and tools

Riv

er S

ilt an

d Irrig

atio

n C

an

als

Irrigation canal from

the rivers

River silt left behind

after a flood

Su

me

rian

Citie

s

• All cities had their own governments

and rulers

– Ur- the most powerful Sumerian city

– Sophisticated city w/ rigid social

classes

– Buildings made of clay bricks

• Regular houses were boxlike w/ no

windows

• Rich houses were two levels w/

courtyard

Exa

mp

les o

f Ur H

ou

sing

Ec

on

om

y o

f Su

me

rian

Citie

s

• Economy based of Agriculture – Grain would be traded

for other goods • Traded for tools, metals,

and wood

• Marketplace- most important area – Used for trading of

goods

– Called a bazaar or open air market

• Barter –A system of trade in which one good is traded for another

Su

me

rian

Re

ligio

n

• Sumerian Religion – Polytheism- belief in

multiple gods

• Ziggurat- main religious building (temple) – Usually protected by wall

– Served many purposes • Store grain, ceremonies,

sacrifices

• Priests held high power in society – Initially had all power until

more wars broke out and military leaders took over

Su

me

rian

Po

litics/C

ultu

re

• Led to dynasties

– A succession of rulers from the same

family.

• Society had rigid social classes • Little Social mobility

– Priests and Kings – upper class

– Merchants/ Artisans – upper middle class

– Farmers/ Laborers – lower middle class

– Slaves- (usually POWs, not race based)

• Women held some rights in society • Able to own land, enter low priesthood

• Could not write; suggests no education

Su

me

rian

Sc

ien

ce

& Te

ch

• Sumerians known for 4 major inventions – The wheel

– The sail • Both aid in travel and trade; make

them faster

– The plow – The Harness

• Created calendars

• Counting/ number system from 0 – 60

• First to use Bronze- the Bronze Age

• Created cuneiform – Writing system of pressing into clay

– Used pictographs – picture=words – Stylus- small tool for writing

• Ziggurat

Ea

rly M

eso

po

tam

ian

Co

nq

ue

rors

• Religious leaders held power first but wars broke out

• With more wars, military leaders come to power

• Eventually leaders start taking over nearby

villages

– Leads to the beginning of empires and empire building

• Empire-many areas under the rule of one

leader

• First Empire builder- Sargon of Akkad

• Takes power over Sumer

– Came from the city of Akkad

– Adopted many of the Sumerian

practices and beliefs

• Sargon dynasty unifies Sumer from

2340 – 2125 BCE

– Becomes the first time Sumer was unified

• Expands empire from north of Sumer to Persian Gulf

Disc

ussio

n

• Why did Sargon adopt much of the

Sumerian culture?

Ne

w G

rou

p &

Lea

de

r Co

me

to P

ow

er

• Empire of Sargon begins to weaken

• Amorites take power of Sumer around

2000 BCE; later known as Babylonians

– Make Babylon their capital, moved it from Ur

– Still kept practices of Sumer

• Babylonian Empire reaches its height

under Hammurabi (1790-1750 BCE)

• Best known for creating a code of law for all people – Hammurabi’s Code; based off earlier codes

– First Written Law Code; posted throughout cities.

• Hammurabi’s Code based on revenge – Eye for an eye, tooth for tooth

• Rules applied differently to rich and poor

• Religion changed under Hammurabi- Marduk main god