Civilization Begins in Mesopotamia

Global Connections

The Impact of Geography

Mesopotamia: The land between the rivers Tigris and Euphrates

The Fertile Crescent: Larger area (from Med. Sea to the Persian Gulf)

Impact: Rivers deposited silt when they flooded in late Spring Eventually the people learn to control the water

with irrigation and drainage

Fertile Crescent

Akkadia and Sumeria

The Sumerians

By 3000 BC there were a number of independent cities in Southern Mesopotamia which developed into city-states

Ex: Eridu, Ur, Uruk The centerpiece of each of these cities was the

temple which was built on massive stepped tower called a Ziggurat

Government Theocracies: monarchies by divine authority

Ziggurat

Economy and Society

Economy :Based mostly on farming but eventually trade and industry (metal work and wool)

Society: Nobles: Royals, Priests and their families Commoners: 90% farmers, fishermen,

crafts. Slaves: Agriculture and building

Empires in Mesopotamia

Eventually these city states fell into conflict with each other and outside forces2340 BC The Akadians and their leader Sargon conquered the region and set up the worlds first Empire (fell in 2100 BC)1792 BC Hammurabi (leader of the Babylonians gained control of Akad and Sumer Hammurabi’s Code? (eye for an eye) Patriarchal society

Religion and Creativity

Religion: Polytheistic (3000 or more gods usually associated with nature

Creativity: Writing (Cuneiform) to pass down

knowledge and record eventsThe Epic of Gilgamesh (immortality for gods only)

Technology Bronze (copper and tin), wagon wheel, potters wheel, sundial