Early River Valley Civilizations

3500 B.C. – 450 B.C.

Early River Valley Civilizations

3500 B.C. – 450 B.C.

Chapter 2Chapter 2

City-States in

Mesopotamia

City-States in

MesopotamiaChapter 2 Section 1Chapter 2 Section 1

ObjectiveObjective

• Students will know the characteristics of Mesopotamian society.

• Students will know the characteristics of Mesopotamian society.

• Between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers was a fertile plain known as Mesopotamia. Every year the rivers would flood, and provide Mesopotamia with a rich new soil. Farmers were able to plant rich harvests of wheat and barley.

• Between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers was a fertile plain known as Mesopotamia. Every year the rivers would flood, and provide Mesopotamia with a rich new soil. Farmers were able to plant rich harvests of wheat and barley.

Environmental ChallengesEnvironmental Challenges

• Until about 100 years ago, the history of the Sumerian people was lost. Since we have found them, we have slowly been piecing together what life was like for these people. The Sumerians moved into the Southern Mesopotamia around 3500 B.C.

• Until about 100 years ago, the history of the Sumerian people was lost. Since we have found them, we have slowly been piecing together what life was like for these people. The Sumerians moved into the Southern Mesopotamia around 3500 B.C.

There were three problems for the Sumerians.There were three problems for the Sumerians.

• 1st was that it was impossible to predict when the rivers would flood.

• 1st was that it was impossible to predict when the rivers would flood.

• 2nd was that the region of Sumer was small and it was difficult to defend.

• 2nd was that the region of Sumer was small and it was difficult to defend.

• 3rd natural resources were limited. The plains of the southern Mesopotamia were not loaded with stone, wood, or metal. Things the Sumerians needed to make buildings and tools.

• 3rd natural resources were limited. The plains of the southern Mesopotamia were not loaded with stone, wood, or metal. Things the Sumerians needed to make buildings and tools.

Creating SolutionsCreating Solutions

• To solve the 1st problem the Sumerians discovered that by digging irrigation ditches they could divert water from the rivers to water their crops.

• To solve the 1st problem the Sumerians discovered that by digging irrigation ditches they could divert water from the rivers to water their crops.

• To solve the 2nd problem of protecting their village, the Sumerians built walls around their city with mud bricks.

• To solve the 2nd problem of protecting their village, the Sumerians built walls around their city with mud bricks.

• To solve the 3rd problem of natural resources the Sumerians began to trade grain, cloth, and crafted tools for the things they needed.

• To solve the 3rd problem of natural resources the Sumerians began to trade grain, cloth, and crafted tools for the things they needed.

• By 3000 B.C., the Sumerians had built several cities. Each of the By 3000 B.C., the Sumerians had built several cities. Each of the cities was surrounded by fields of wheat and barley. They cities was surrounded by fields of wheat and barley. They each had each had their own ruler and governmenttheir own ruler and government. Each city and its surrounding . Each city and its surrounding lands became known as a lands became known as a city-states.city-states.

• By 3000 B.C., the Sumerians had built several cities. Each of the By 3000 B.C., the Sumerians had built several cities. Each of the cities was surrounded by fields of wheat and barley. They cities was surrounded by fields of wheat and barley. They each had each had their own ruler and governmenttheir own ruler and government. Each city and its surrounding . Each city and its surrounding lands became known as a lands became known as a city-states.city-states.

• They basically operated the same as an independent They basically operated the same as an independent country would. country would. Sumerian city-statesSumerian city-states; ; Uruk, Kish, Uruk, Kish, Lagash, Eridu, and NippurLagash, Eridu, and Nippur

• They basically operated the same as an independent They basically operated the same as an independent country would. country would. Sumerian city-statesSumerian city-states; ; Uruk, Kish, Uruk, Kish, Lagash, Eridu, and NippurLagash, Eridu, and Nippur

• The The PriestsPriests ran the first ran the first citiescities. The . The people people believed that they were believed that they were in contact with the in contact with the godsgods, who controlled , who controlled the rain, which watered the rain, which watered their crops.their crops.

• The The PriestsPriests ran the first ran the first citiescities. The . The people people believed that they were believed that they were in contact with the in contact with the godsgods, who controlled , who controlled the rain, which watered the rain, which watered their crops.their crops.

• This changed as the cities began to wage war against one another. Strong warrior leaders emerged and took charge.

• These military leaders became full time leaders or monarchs. When these rulers would die they would turn the power over to their sons.

• This changed as the cities began to wage war against one another. Strong warrior leaders emerged and took charge.

• These military leaders became full time leaders or monarchs. When these rulers would die they would turn the power over to their sons.

• A series of rulers from a single family is called a dynasty.• A series of rulers from a single family is called a dynasty.

• By 2500 B.C. By 2500 B.C. cities all over the cities all over the Fertile Crescent Fertile Crescent had emerged.had emerged.

• Trade between Trade between the cities the cities flourished, and flourished, and new ideas such new ideas such as religious as religious beliefs were beliefs were exchanged.exchanged.

• The process of a The process of a new idea or new idea or product product spreading from spreading from one culture to one culture to another another is called is called cultural cultural diffusiondiffusion..

• By 2500 B.C. By 2500 B.C. cities all over the cities all over the Fertile Crescent Fertile Crescent had emerged.had emerged.

• Trade between Trade between the cities the cities flourished, and flourished, and new ideas such new ideas such as religious as religious beliefs were beliefs were exchanged.exchanged.

• The process of a The process of a new idea or new idea or product product spreading from spreading from one culture to one culture to another another is called is called cultural cultural diffusiondiffusion..

• ReligionReligion• The Sumerians The Sumerians

believed that different believed that different gods controlled gods controlled different aspects of different aspects of nature.nature.

• The The belief in many belief in many gods gods is called is called polytheismpolytheism..

• ReligionReligion• The Sumerians The Sumerians

believed that different believed that different gods controlled gods controlled different aspects of different aspects of nature.nature.

• The The belief in many belief in many gods gods is called is called polytheismpolytheism..

• The The SumeriansSumerians believed in over 3000 gods. believed in over 3000 gods.• The The SumeriansSumerians believed in over 3000 gods. believed in over 3000 gods.

• To make the gods happy the people built mighty ziggurats to appease them. Here they would offer sacrifices such as babies, animals, wine, and food.

• To make the gods happy the people built mighty ziggurats to appease them. Here they would offer sacrifices such as babies, animals, wine, and food.

• In the poem the Epic of Gilgamesh, the beliefs and concerns of the Sumerian people are expressed throughout the heroic adventures of the legendary life of King Gilgamesh. In the poem Gilgamesh is unsuccessful at obtaining immortality. The Epic of Gilgamesh is one of the earliest works of literature in the world.

• In the poem the Epic of Gilgamesh, the beliefs and concerns of the Sumerian people are expressed throughout the heroic adventures of the legendary life of King Gilgamesh. In the poem Gilgamesh is unsuccessful at obtaining immortality. The Epic of Gilgamesh is one of the earliest works of literature in the world.

• In the 1850’s, the royal libraries of Nineveh were discovered by In the 1850’s, the royal libraries of Nineveh were discovered by archeologists. Thearcheologists. The Epic of GilgameshEpic of Gilgamesh was found to be was found to be 3600 years 3600 years old. In the climax of the story there is a great flood that parallels old. In the climax of the story there is a great flood that parallels that of the one found in the biblical story Noah’s Arcthat of the one found in the biblical story Noah’s Arc

• In the 1850’s, the royal libraries of Nineveh were discovered by In the 1850’s, the royal libraries of Nineveh were discovered by archeologists. Thearcheologists. The Epic of GilgameshEpic of Gilgamesh was found to be was found to be 3600 years 3600 years old. In the climax of the story there is a great flood that parallels old. In the climax of the story there is a great flood that parallels that of the one found in the biblical story Noah’s Arcthat of the one found in the biblical story Noah’s Arc

Life in the Sumerian SocietyLife in the Sumerian Society

• Priests and Kings made up the highest levels of society

• Wealthy merchants were next

• Slaves were at the bottom of society

• Priests and Kings made up the highest levels of society

• Wealthy merchants were next

• Slaves were at the bottom of society

• Most of the slaves were captured in battles.

• Some children became slaves when there poor parents sold them to repay debts.

• Some slaves could earn their freedom if they were good workers.

• Most of the slaves were captured in battles.

• Some children became slaves when there poor parents sold them to repay debts.

• Some slaves could earn their freedom if they were good workers.

Women in SumerWomen in Sumer

• Sumerian women could have many of the same jobs that men had (ex. Merchants, farmers, artisans).

• Women could own property.

• Sumerian women could have many of the same jobs that men had (ex. Merchants, farmers, artisans).

• Women could own property.

Women in SumerWomen in Sumer• They could even

be low level priests.

• Scholars don’t believe girls were given the chance to read and write.

• They could even be low level priests.

• Scholars don’t believe girls were given the chance to read and write.

Science and TechnologyScience and Technology

• Sumerians invented the wheel, sail, and plow.

• They were the first to use bronze.

• First to develop a system of writing.

• Sumerians invented the wheel, sail, and plow.

• They were the first to use bronze.

• First to develop a system of writing.

Science and TechnologyScience and Technology• Cuneiform tablets

have been found to be as old as 2300 B.C.

• Some of the tablets talk about astronomy, chemical substances, and symptoms of diseases.

• Cuneiform tablets have been found to be as old as 2300 B.C.

• Some of the tablets talk about astronomy, chemical substances, and symptoms of diseases.

Science and TechnologyScience and Technology

• The Sumerians came up with arithmetic and geometry to figure out how to build city walls, buildings, and irrigation systems.

• The Sumerians came up with arithmetic and geometry to figure out how to build city walls, buildings, and irrigation systems.

ArchitectureArchitecture• Arches• Columns• Ramps• Pyramids

• Arches• Columns• Ramps• Pyramids

Babylonian EmpireBabylonian Empire

• Around 2000 B.C., a group called the Amorites invaded Mesopotamia. They overwhelmed the Sumerians and established a capital at Babylon.

• Around 2000 B.C., a group called the Amorites invaded Mesopotamia. They overwhelmed the Sumerians and established a capital at Babylon.

Babylonian EmpireBabylonian Empire

• The Babylonian Empire reached its zenith during the reign of Hammurabi, 1792 to 1750 B.C.

• He is famous for his code of laws.

• The Babylonian Empire reached its zenith during the reign of Hammurabi, 1792 to 1750 B.C.

• He is famous for his code of laws.

Hammurabi’s CodeHammurabi’s Code

• Other cities had developed laws, but Hammurabi’s was one code for all the people to follow.

• His code of laws was put in stone and passed out throughout his empire.

• Other cities had developed laws, but Hammurabi’s was one code for all the people to follow.

• His code of laws was put in stone and passed out throughout his empire.

Hammurabi’s CodeHammurabi’s Code• Hammurabi’s

code of laws had 282 laws dealing with community, family relations, business conduct, and crime.

• There were different punishments for the rich and poor, and men and women.

• Hammurabi’s code of laws had 282 laws dealing with community, family relations, business conduct, and crime.

• There were different punishments for the rich and poor, and men and women.

• An eye for an eye and tooth for a tooth was in place for many crimes.

• If criminals were not caught, the government would try and compensate the victim for his loss.

• An eye for an eye and tooth for a tooth was in place for many crimes.

• If criminals were not caught, the government would try and compensate the victim for his loss.

If a child strikes his father his hand shall be cut off.

• After two centuries the Babylonian Empire began to fall to Nomadic warriors.

• After two centuries the Babylonian Empire began to fall to Nomadic warriors.