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Ancient Civilizations

Ancient Civilizations. Mesopotamia. The Start of Mesopotamia. 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)

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Ancient Civilizations

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  1. Ancient Civilizations Mesopotamia

  2. The Start of Mesopotamia • 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

  3. Geography of Mesopotamia

  4. Characteristics of Fertile Crescent • 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

  5. Importance of Geography • 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

  6. Discussion • What technology did the Sumerians utilize that would help lessen the negative consequences discussed previously?

  7. Importance of Geography • 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

  8. River Silt and Irrigation Canals River silt left behind after a flood Irrigation canal from the rivers

  9. Sumerian Cities • 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

  10. Examples of Ur Housing

  11. Economy of Sumerian Cities • 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

  12. Sumerian Religion • 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

  13. Sumerian Politics/Culture • 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

  14. Sumerian Science & Tech • 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

  15. Early Mesopotamian Conquerors • 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

  16. Discussion • Why did Sargon adopt much of the Sumerian culture?

  17. New Group & Leader Come to Power • 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

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