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Mesopotamia: Birthplace of Civilization

Learn about the rise of civilization in Mesopotamia, from the fertile lands along the Tigris and Euphrates rivers to the development of writing, arts, and empires like Sargon's and Babylon. Explore the factors that influenced early societies in this ancient region.

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Mesopotamia: Birthplace of Civilization

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  1. Mesopotamia

  2. What elements of Civilization do you see in this picture?

  3. Geography Promotes Civilization • *Note: text in yellow represents a fill-in. • Fertile area between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers became site of world’s first civilization. Today we call this area Iraq. • Fertile Crescent well suited for agriculture • Farming in Mesopotamiaposed challenges: • If water levels too high, crops washed away • If water levels too low, crops died • People developed methods to control water: • Basins, canals, and dikes • Organization: assigning jobs, allocatingresources

  4. What factors influenced the rise of civilization in Mesopotamia? Answer:

  5. What factors influenced the rise of civilization in Mesopotamia? Answer: fertile land; plentiful food; need to organize people for jobs

  6. Sumer The Cities of Sumer Religion and Government • PolytheismShaped life in city-states • Polytheism: worship of many gods • Priests had high status and were the first rulers • War chiefs began to rule as kings • Dynasty: series of rulers from one family • Large cities developed by 4000 BC • Structures made of mud bricks • Ziggurat: pyramid-shaped temple • Massive wall encircled each city • Each city and its land formed a city-state, with its own government

  7. Sumerian Culture • Writing • Cuneiform: Sumerian writing • Business accounts and records • Law, grammar, literature • Scribes • Math and Sciences • System based on number 60 • Geometry • May have been the first to use the wheel • Invented the plow • Basic surgery • The Arts • Arches, ramps, columns • Sculpture • Cylinder seals • Trade and Society • Traded for wood and metals • Social hierarchy • Distinct male/female roles

  8. Why was the Sumerians’ development of cuneiform a major turning point in history? Answer(s):

  9. Why was the Sumerians’ development of cuneiform a major turning point in history? Answer(s):After the development of cuneiform, humankind moved from prehistory into the historical age.

  10. Sargon’s Empire The Babylonian Empire • Sargon I: • Around 2330 BC, created first permanent army • Conquered Sumer and northern Mesopotamia • Established world’s first empire, which lasted about 100 years • Sumerian culture spread far beyond Tigris and Euphrates valleys • Hammurabi became king in 1792 BC • United all of Mesopotamia • Able ruler and administrator • Hammurabi’s Code: • 282 laws covering everything from trade to murder • Written for all to see • Babylon became Mesopotamia’s greatest city Empires in Mesopotamia • Each conquering invader adapted aspects of Sumerian culture. • Thus Sumerian civilization continued to influence life in Mesopotamia.

  11. Mesopotamian Achievements • Sumerians • Developed the world’s first Civilization • Created cuneiform writing • Invented the wheel and the plow • Wrote the Epic of Gilgamesh • Built cities and ziggurats • Sargon I • Established the world’s first empire • Babylonians • Wrote Hammurabi’s Code

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