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ANCIENT MESOPOTAMIA. “Land Between the Rivers”. The Fertile Crescent. This term comes from the shape of the area and the fact that the soil has so many nutrients. VOCABULARY. City-state—
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ANCIENT MESOPOTAMIA “Land Between the Rivers”
The Fertile Crescent • This term comes from the shape of the area and the fact that the soil has so many nutrients.
VOCABULARY • City-state— • A central city and its surrounding villages, which together follow the same law, have one form of government, and share language, religious beliefs, and ways of life.
REASONS TO FORM CITY-STATES • To help protect themselves from invaders • Surrounded cities with strong, high walls • To build and maintain irrigation canals for water • Water was useful to citizens • To help protect valuable trading • Defended against bandits, pirates, and wild animals
CENTERS OF RELIGION • Sumerians believed in many gods (polytheistic) • Each city-state built a temple to a specific god • This god was the ‘guardian’ of the city
VOCABULARY • Ziggurat— • A Mesopotamian terraced pyramid in which each terrace is smaller than the one below it.
GOVERNMENT • Priests: Controlled religion and economy • Kings: Controlled politics and military • Some kings created EMPIRES – groups of countries under one ruler’s control
MESOPOTAMIAN CLASS SYSTEM • Highest Class: • Kings, priests, wealthy landowners • Middle Class: • Skilled workers, merchants, farmers • Lowest Class: • Slaves
WRITING SYSTEM • Cuneiform writing system was used for: • Keeping records • Making lists • Sending business letters • Recording history • Medicine, mathematics, and astronomy
SCRIBES • Few people were able to read and write • “Scribes” were the record keepers • Typically belonged to highest class • Schooling was intense • About 600 characters used in cuneiform
SUMMARY Located in the Fertile Crescent Centers of religious worship MESOPOTAMIA Used a class system Developed a system of writing