What is Civilization?

2. What is Civilization? • As villages grew in size, some developed into civilizations. A Civilization is a complex culture with six characteristics: • Cities • Organized Governments • Art • Religion • Class Divisions • Writing System/Record keeping

3. First Cities • The first cities grew around rivers • River water was vital for good farming • Rivers also provided a way to travel and trade easily • In some cities large markets formed where people could trade or barter for goods.

4. Tigris and Euphrates River Valley • Mesopotamia is located between these rivers. Mesopotamia is a Greek word that means “land between the rivers” • The rivers flow from the mountains of Asia Minor southeast to the Persian Gulf • Almost every spring the rivers flooded their banks and deposited a thick layer of silt. • The silt stuck to the ground and created a rich fertile area to plant crops. That is why the region was also called the Fertile Crescent because of the rich soil and curved shape.

6. “The Cradle of Civilization” • Mesopotamia is often called the “Cradle of Civilization” because it is where the first civilizations began. • The earliest of these civilizations was located in the southern region of Mesopotamia called Sumer.

7. Sumerian City-States • In power from 4000B.C. to 2300 B.C. • Made up of many small independent city-states with a similar culture, language, and religion but different rulers • Invented the wheel, plow, and sailboat • Created a written language called Cuneiform • Constantly at war with each other

8. Challenges for Sumerians You come up with the solution

9. Challenge 1: The Rivers rarely flooded at the same time each year. Sometimes they flooded as early as March and other times they did not flood until May. After the flood receded the sun quickly dried the silt into hard clay. How could the Sumerians continue to water their fields with little or no rainfall during the growing season? Sometimes the flood never came. What would be some ways that the Sumerians tried to ensure the flood would come?

10. The Sumerians constructed irrigation systems to carry river water to fields. This allowed them to produce large amounts of food. Sumerians prayed to and gave sacrifices to Enki-the river god. They asked for a strong enough flood to provide plenty of water but not too strong a flood that might be devastating.

11. Sumerian Government • The need to control the water supply and irrigation system made it necessary for someone to be in charge • The Sumerians established governments and systems of rules so they could maintain law and order. • In times of peace, priests were in charge but during war a strong warrior took over. • Because the city-states were constantly at war, warriors ruled mostly • The warriors became Kings. When one King died his son then ruled This is called a dynasty.

12. Challenge 2: Sumerian city-states stood on open plains. Natural defenses could not provide barriers to invading groups of warriors. How could the city-states defend or protect themselves?

13. The Sumerians built city walls out of mud bricks that surrounded the city.

14. Mesopotamian City Gates. That is Mrs. M standing in front of them. Mesopotamian mud bricks

15. Challenge 3: Natural resources were very limited. In the desert region, how did the Sumerians get resources such as stone, wood, and metal for tools and building?

16. The Sumerians traded grain, cloth, and tools for products they lacked. They usually traded with northern Mesopotamian city-states which were located in places that had timber and metals. Mountains provided timber and metals.

17. Sumerian Writing • As city life became more complex and structured people began to need to keep records. • Records were kept for taxes, food storage, debts, religious events, etc. • People called scribes were professional record keepers. • Sumerian scribes invented a system of writing called cuneiform-which means “wedge-shaped. • Now, written records became a part of history.

19. Sumerian Specialized workers • People had fewer worries about meeting their basic needs so they had time to think about other things. • Many Sumerians became artisans who made metal products, cloth, or pottery. • Mathematicians worked with a number system based on 60. • They developed a calendar based on the cycles of the moon.

20. Sumerian Religion • Sumerians believed in over 3000 gods in their system of worship. This is called polytheism. • They thought gods controlled every aspect of life. • They built temples called Ziggurats to be dedicated to the city’s most important god or goddess. • Temple priests were very powerful and often wealthy. Sometimes they even controlled the government.

21. The Ziggurat in Ur What it originally looked like

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23. A lamassu was a human-headed winged bull or lion. Huge sculptures of lamassus guarded Assyrian palace doorways and city gates. They were there to frighten away the forces of chaos. Lamassu

24. Ellil (Enlil) Ellil is one of the most important gods of Mesopotamia. Ellil is so powerful that the other gods can't even look at him. He is therefore only shown as a horned cap. . Ellil guards the 'tablets of destiny'. These are cuneiform tablets on which he writes the fate of everything on earth.

25. In the Babylonian Epic of Creation, Tiamat is an angry goddess, who decides to destroy the other gods. She creates a vast army of demons. The other gods decide that Tiamat should be killed, but they are all afraid. Marduk agrees to kill Tiamat if he is made supreme god. Marduk kills Tiamat and, to make heaven and earth, cuts her body in half. From her eyes flow the rivers Tigris and Euphrates. Tiamat

26. Sumerian Class Divisions • People held different places in society depending on what work they did and how much wealth they had. • In the upper class were kings, priests, and government officials. • In the middle class were artisans, merchants, farmers, and fishers. • In the lower class were enslaved people.

27. Sumerian Priests

28. Sumerian man and woman. Clothing made from animal hides and cut into this pattern.

29. Sumerian Fun Facts • Wealthy Sumerians ate meat with every meal • Poor Sumerians ate lots of bread and porridge • Beer was the staple beverage • Locusts were roasted and eaten. • Some boys went to school but teachers were strict and could beat bad students • Most girls married between the age of 12 and 14! • Sumerians often slept on their roofs so they could feel cool breezes.

30. Sumerian Fun Facts • Sumerians enjoyed music and had many instruments including pipes, drums, harps, and lyres. • During the Sumerian wedding ceremony the husband poured perfume over the head of the bride! • Sumerians loved storytelling. They created folktales and legends. • Homes of the rich were larger and more grand than the poor.

31. Sumerian story of creation

32. At the beginning of time there were only gods and goddesses on earth. They had to work the land to grow crops to eat. This was difficult and they worked very hard.

33. Each god and goddess had a job to do. Some dug the fields and planted the crops. Others brought water to the fields in ditches which had to be kept clear of weeds.

34. They went to get advice from Enki, who was wise and clever. Enki was fast asleep in his underwater house.

35. Enki suggested that he create creatures to serve them by working the land. Then the gods' and goddesses' lives would be easier.

36. The gods and goddesses thought that Enki's plan was a good solution. Enki collected clay from around his watery home and used it to make humans.

37. He breathed life into the clay figures, but he limited how long they would live. Only the gods and goddesses would live forever.

38. The humans were put to work in the fields. As servants of the gods and goddesses they had to provide them with food and drink for their tables.

39. The humans took water from the rivers and fed the dry and lifeless lands. They dug the soil and planted crops.

40. With hard work the humans brought life to the land, and the gods and goddesses, who had brought life to the humans, were happy for the moment.

41. Mesopotamian myths and legends were very important forms of literature and influenced other cultures like the Hebrews and the Greeks. The Mesopotamian Epic of Gilgamesh told of the many brave feats of the hero, Gilgamesh.

42. Once upon a time a powerful king called Gilgamesh ruled the city of Uruk. Uruk was a busy city on the flat Mesopotamian plain near the banks of the Euphrates river.

43. King Gilgamesh and his friend Enkidu soon became bored with everyday life in Uruk. They wanted to see the world and find adventure. Gilgamesh suggested they journey across the flat plains to the distant mountains. They could bring back some wood from the cedar forests.

44. Cedar wood was special for many reasons. Cedar trees grew very tall and straight. Long timbers could be used for roof beams and doors in temples and palaces.

45. The wood was also good for building because it lasted many, many years without decaying. The rich smell of the cedar wood in the palaces and temples was very pleasant.

46. Now, everyone in Uruk had heard stories of the demon Humbaba who guarded the cedar forests in faraway hills. Humbaba's roar was like the sound of a flood, his mouth was like fire, and his breath was like death

47. However, Gilgamesh and Enkidu were excited by the thought of meeting Humbaba. They were both very strong, and believed that they could defeat him in battle. The journey would certainly provide the adventure they were looking for.

48. Gilgamesh and Enkidu set out for the cedar forest with enough supplies to last them for several weeks and weapons to use against Humbaba. They left the city of Uruk and began the journey across the flat plain which stretched out from the banks of the river.

49. The two friends traveled very fast. Normally the journey would take six months but Gilgamesh and Enkidu took just fifteen days.

50. They arrived at the mountain and gazed at the wonderful sight. The forest covered the mountain and the cedar trees grew straight and tall. Gilgamesh and Enkidu stopped for the night and made an offering to the sun god Shamash. The next morning they entered the forest.