By: Miss K. Rice

• So who were these first people So who were these first people considered to be the world’s first:considered to be the world’s first:

Civilizations have: Cities, organized governments, art, religion, writing system

• They were the:They were the:

• Turkey & the Arabian PeninsulaTurkey & the Arabian Peninsula

Turkey

Arabian

Peninsula

• Migrated by following their food supply Migrated by following their food supply and looking for a nicer climate in which to and looking for a nicer climate in which to live live (NOMADS)(NOMADS)

• 3500 BCE3500 BCE

• In Southern MesopotamiaIn Southern Mesopotamia

• What did they look like:What did they look like:– A written description:A written description:

• ShortShort

• StockyStocky

• Black- hairedBlack- haired

Who can draw

the best of them all ????

• The main Sumerian occupation was:The main Sumerian occupation was:

• Farming spread throughout the world Farming spread throughout the world between 7000-2000 B.C.E. between 7000-2000 B.C.E.

• Farming caused people to stay close to Farming caused people to stay close to their fields.their fields.

• Villages grew.Villages grew.

• How did the Sumerians accomplish the feat of How did the Sumerians accomplish the feat of being able to farm the land?being able to farm the land?

• Changing the environment

• Irrigation

• Levees

• Animal Husbandry (taming animals to use for labor & food)

Domestic AnimalsDefinitely Not Domestic!

• As Sumerian farming became successful As Sumerian farming became successful there was more availablethere was more available

• Their because Their because

of the of the

• As the world’s population increases, so As the world’s population increases, so does specialization.does specialization.

• CraftspeopleCraftspeople

• Toolmakers – Toolmakers – – Ex. Sickle makes harvesting crops easier & Ex. Sickle makes harvesting crops easier &

Faster!Faster!

• What do the Sumerians need for a bigger What do the Sumerians need for a bigger population?population?

and many of them = Cities

• What do the Sumerians need for a bigger What do the Sumerians need for a bigger population?population?

–Organization and to keep orderOrganization and to keep order

• Self-Sufficient!Self-Sufficient!

• Brick wall with bronze gate (closes at Brick wall with bronze gate (closes at night for protection)night for protection)

• Narrow winding streetsNarrow winding streets

• Lower Class = unskilled workers (usually Lower Class = unskilled workers (usually live by fishing) & farmers live by fishing) & farmers

• Middle Class= artisans (shop keepers, Middle Class= artisans (shop keepers, carpenters, government officials, etc.)carpenters, government officials, etc.)

• Upper Class = Merchants & Priests Upper Class = Merchants & Priests

• Ziggurat = TempleZiggurat = Temple

• Women = owned by the menWomen = owned by the men

•Wealthy = especially priest own all the Wealthy = especially priest own all the land and have conflict with kings once kings land and have conflict with kings once kings are establishedare established

•Serfs & Slaves = majority of the populationSerfs & Slaves = majority of the population Do all the Manual LaborDo all the Manual Labor

• MalesMales– Sun up to sun down Sun up to sun down – EncouragedEncouraged– FailuresFailures

• Ziggurats Ziggurats – Hill of HeavenHill of Heaven– Mountain of GodMountain of God

•Over 3,000 GodsOver 3,000 Gods

•PriestPriest - Lots of power- Lots of power - Control who gets land- Control who gets land

• Did priests ever go to war? Did priests ever go to war?

• War broke out and the people needed a War broke out and the people needed a stronger leader than the priestsstronger leader than the priests

• Became Became HEREDITARY!HEREDITARY!