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Civilization Begins in Mesopotamia

Civilization Begins in Mesopotamia. Global Connections. The Impact of Geography. Mesopotamia : The land between the rivers Tigris and Euphrates The Fertile Crescent : Larger area (from Med. Sea to the Persian Gulf) Impact : Rivers deposited silt when they flooded in late Spring

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Civilization Begins in Mesopotamia

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  1. Civilization Begins in Mesopotamia Global Connections

  2. The Impact of Geography • Mesopotamia: The land between the rivers • Tigris and Euphrates • The Fertile Crescent: Larger area (from Med. Sea to the Persian Gulf) • Impact: Rivers deposited silt when they flooded in late Spring • Eventually the people learn to control the water with irrigation and drainage

  3. Fertile Crescent

  4. Akkadia and Sumeria

  5. The Sumerians • By 3000 BC there were a number of independent cities in Southern Mesopotamia which developed into city-states • Ex: Eridu, Ur, Uruk • The centerpiece of each of these cities was the temple which was built on massive stepped tower called a Ziggurat • Government • Theocracies: monarchies by divine authority

  6. Ziggurat

  7. Economy and Society • Economy :Based mostly on farming but eventually trade and industry (metal work and wool) • Society: • Nobles: Royals, Priests and their families • Commoners: 90% farmers, fishermen, crafts. • Slaves: Agriculture and building

  8. Empires in Mesopotamia • Eventually these city states fell into conflict with each other and outside forces • 2340 BC The Akadians and their leader Sargon conquered the region and set up the worlds first Empire (fell in 2100 BC) • 1792 BC Hammurabi (leader of the Babylonians gained control of Akad and Sumer • Hammurabi’s Code? (eye for an eye) • Patriarchal society

  9. Religion and Creativity • Religion: Polytheistic (3000 or more gods usually associated with nature • Creativity: • Writing (Cuneiform) to pass down knowledge and record events • The Epic of Gilgamesh (immortality for gods only) • Technology Bronze (copper and tin), wagon wheel, potters wheel, sundial

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