Mesopotamia“between the rivers”

CIVILIZATION

CAUSE EFFECT

Farming and Domestication

Food Surplus

Reliable Food Source

Permanent SettlementsReliable Food Source

Food Surplus Larger Populations

Division of labor (artisans)

CIVILIZATION

• Why is this area known as the Fertile Crescent?

Location’s everything

-Tigris and Euphrates Rivers- Iraq

Map

• Why is this area known as the Fertile Crescent? - Rich soil (silt)

Location’s everything

-Tigris and Euphrates Rivers- Iraq

Challenges

• What were some of the challenges man had to deal with in order to settle this area?

- dry- flooding of the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers

• How did man solve these problems?

- Irrigation and drainage ditches

Who were the people that made up

Mesopotamia?• 3 groups

- Assyrians (Assyria)

- Akkadians

(Akkadia)- Sumerians (Sumer)

Sumerian Society

• Cities established by 3,000 B.C.E

• City -states

• What are some characteristics of Sumerian cities?

- Walls

- Defensive towers

- Mud brick structures- Ziggurats

• What was the role of the ziggurat in Sumerian society?- Store food and crafts- Place of religious worship for priests/priestesses - Symbol of government

Sumerian Society

• Cities established by 3,000 B.C.E

• City -states

• Theocracy

- Polytheistic

Sumerian Religion• What type of religion did the Sumerians practice?

• What are some characteristics of their religion?

- Natural events the result of gods and goddesses- Humans inferior- Gods and goddesses own cities

Sumerian Society

• Cities established by 3,000 B.C.E

• City -states

• Class system

• Theocracy

Gods and Goddesses

Divine rightRoyals, priests, priestess

Farmers, Merchants, Artisans

Sumerian Society

• Cities established by 3,000 B.C.E

• City -states

• Class system

• Theocracy

• Creativity

• Writing:- cuneiform - Wagon wheel

- Potter’s wheel- Sundial- Arch- Bronze- Number systembased on 60

• Inventions:

• How did the invention of the wheel affect society?

- More trade

Sumerian Society

• Cities established by 3,000 B.C.E

• City -states

• Class system

• Theocracy

• Creativity

• Trade

Economy

Import Export

Copper and tin Metal goods

Timber Fish, wool, wheat, barley

From city-states to empires

Akkadian Empire (2340 – 2100 B.C.E )

Babylonian Empire (1792 B.C.E)• Hammurabi takes Akkad

and Sumer• codified law

“Code of Hammurabi”

• Sargon takes the Sumerian city-states

The Code of Hammurabi

• Principle of retaliation“eye for an eye”

• Patriarchal

• Consumer - protection laws

• Punishment varied according to social class