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The First Civilization

The First Civilization. Let’s discuss some negatives about living in a River Valley first…. Lack of protection Easy to invade b/c no mountains or natural barriers How did they cope? They built brick walls & moats. Possibility of drought.

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The First Civilization

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  1. The First Civilization

  2. Let’s discuss some negatives about living in a River Valley first…

  3. Lack of protection • Easy to invade b/c no mountains or natural barriers • How did they cope? They built brick walls & moats

  4. Possibility of drought

  5. Lack of resources- no forests for woods, little stone and minerals • How did they cope? TRADE! • What did they trade?

  6. Welcome to Sumer & meet the Sumerians

  7. A city-what??!? • City State: a community that included a city and its surrounding lands. • Sumerian City State: • Trade • Learning • Religion • By 3,000BCE Sumer had atleast 12 city states • Famous ones were: • Babylon • Kish • Nippur • Ur

  8. Where are they located? • Most city states are located near the mouth of the Tigris and Euphrates • The land was fertile • Farmers can grow more food • More food = bigger population

  9. 3,300 BCE - SUMER • What is a civilization? A civilization is advance form of culture that developed in cities. • For example: as we became better farmers, population increased • City leaders organized workers • Culture grew much more complex

  10. The Sumerian City State • http://player.discoveryeducation.com/index.cfm?guidAssetId=c97e7036-9246-4258-b1f6-9586f5e1333b

  11. The Sumerian city • Built homes out of reeds, brick and mud • Rooms around a court yard

  12. The Ziggurat • 2220 BCE- largest most important structure in the city • It functioned as a city hall • Middle of a temple complex • This is b/c priests ran the agriculture and other things of importance

  13. Class zone!

  14. Brief Sumerian Religion • Priests = very important • Politically • Religious • Went to them for help from gods

  15. What is a social class?

  16. Sumerian Social Classes • Top: kings/Priests • Upper: landowners, government officials and rich merchants • Middle: farmers & artisans • Lower: slaves

  17. Kings

  18. Upper class- land owners, rich merchants, government officials

  19. Priests

  20. Middle Class- Farmers, artisans

  21. Lowest class - slaves

  22. Social Hierarchy • http://player.discoveryeducation.com/index.cfm?guidAssetId=3029357E-9BB7-40D5-93E2-EFFBDCA2AFFE

  23. What was the role of Women? • Women in Sumer had more rights than they did in later Mesopotamia • Upper class women became priestesses = role of honor • Could own land • Work as merchants/weavers • Main role was still raising children

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