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Discover the fascinating world of ancient Mesopotamia, the cradle of civilization, with its complex societies, city-states, and advancements in art, government, and religion. Learn about the importance of rivers, city-states, the role of government, and the intricate social classes that shaped life in Sumer. Explore the innovations in writing, math, and science, and the epic tale of Gilgamesh. Witness the rise and fall of empires like the Akkadians and Babylonians, and the legacy of Hammurabi's Code.
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Civilization • Complex societies that have: • Cities • Organized Governments • Art • Religion • Class Divisions • Writing system
How were rivers helpful? • Rivers: • provided fertile farm land • helped people trade with each other • Spread ideas to new places • Rise of cities
Role of Government • Helped distribute food • Built buildings and other projects • Created laws • Made armies for defense
New inventions • Writing systems • calendars
Mesopotamia • In present day Southern Iraq • Earliest known civilization • Created between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers • Unpredictable weather made farming a problem
Farming in Mesopotamia • Rivers flooded lands for rich soil • Farmers built dams to control the water • Created irrigation ditches to water fields away from the rivers • Led to lots of cities to develop in the region of Sumer
City-States • Cities were far from each other • Did not talk to each other • City-State: Individual city with the surrounding land run by their own government • Went to war with each other • Built mud walls for protection
Religion • Believed in many gods • Built ziggurats (temples) to each god • Biggest buildings in a town • Means “Mountain of god” or “hill of heaven” • Priests and priestesses ran the temples • Only people to go to the top for ceremonies • Priests and priestesses ran the government
Sumerian Kings • Priests and priestesses-first rulers • War heroes-second rulers • Position was passed along through family • Ran the gov’t • Led the army
Life in Sumerian Cities • Kings lived in palaces • Common people farmed and lived in mud brick houses • Artisans specialized in making tools, clothes, and pottery • Traders moved goods between cities
Social Classes • 3 groups: • 1. Upper class: priests, kings, gov’t officials • 2. Middle Class: artisans, merchants, farmers, and fishermen • 3. Lower class: slaves • Slaves were property • Slaves were could be prisoners of war, criminals, or owe someone money
Men and Women • Men: • Could go to school • Could run businesses • Head of the house • Women: • Had some rights • Could buy and sell property • Could run businesses • Raised the children
Cuneiform • Helps keep records and pass on ideas • a system of writing using wedge shaped marks cut into clay tablets • Scribes were rich boys that kept gov’t records using cuneiform
Literature • Epic of Gilgamesh: • Oldest known story • A poem that tells the story of a hero • A story of a king who searches for a way to live forever
Advances in Math and Science • Irrigation • Wagon Wheel • Plow • Sailboat • Breakthroughs in Geometry • A new number system based on 60 • 60 min in an hr, 60 sec in a min • Created a 12 month calendar based on the moon
The End of Sumer • City-states fought each other • Outside groups attacked the city-states • The Akkadians, led by Sargon, attacked Sumer • Defeated Sumer • Set up an empire by 2340 B.C.
Babylonians • Took over Sargon’s empire in 1800 B.C. • City of Babylon was center of trade • Ran by King Hammurabi • Created a justice system called the Code of Hammurabi
