Post on 02-Jan-2016
River Valleys UnitRiver Valleys UnitMesopotamiaMesopotamia
Civilization Emerges along the Civilization Emerges along the Tigris and Euphrates ValleysTigris and Euphrates Valleys
Mesopotamia:Mesopotamia: the Land between the rivers the Land between the rivers
Continent:Continent: AsiaAsia
Rivers:Rivers: TigrisTigris, , EuphratesEuphrates
Time:Time: 3000 to3000 to
1500 BC1500 BC
Mesopotamia: the LandMesopotamia: the Land
Two rivers: Tigris and EuphratesTwo rivers: Tigris and Euphrates Brought water for farmingBrought water for farming Brought floodsBrought floods
Lots of damageLots of damage Not on a schedule, Not on a schedule, unpredictableunpredictable
Flat land, no natural protection Flat land, no natural protection Many invadersMany invaders
Therefore, people were fearfulTherefore, people were fearful
A government is needed for the A government is needed for the many peoplemany people
Governments created for each cityGovernments created for each city Called Called CITY-STATESCITY-STATES
The city + the land around itThe city + the land around it Ruled by a kingRuled by a king Priests, religious leaders, had important job: Priests, religious leaders, had important job:
keep the gods happy and prevent floodskeep the gods happy and prevent floods
By 2300 BC, By 2300 BC, SargonSargon, the king of the , the king of the city of Akkad, had united all of the city of Akkad, had united all of the city-states into an city-states into an EmpirEmpire under his e under his controlcontrol
Mesopotamia’s ReligionMesopotamia’s Religion
PolytheisticPolytheistic ““poly” = manypoly” = many ““theis” = godstheis” = gods They believed in many godsThey believed in many gods
They feared their godsThey feared their gods Wanted the gods to stop Wanted the gods to stop
the floodsthe floods
They built They built ZIGGURATSZIGGURATS to worship their godsto worship their gods
Mesopotamia’s AccomplishmentsMesopotamia’s Accomplishments
World’s 1World’s 1stst Writing Writing SystemSystem CuneiformCuneiform Used a Used a stylusstylus Wrote on Wrote on wet wet
clayclay tablets tablets, , which were then which were then drieddried
Men who did the Men who did the writing were writing were called called scribesscribes
Mesopotamia’s AccomplishmentsMesopotamia’s AccomplishmentsArchitectureArchitecture
What kinds of buildings do you see? How do you know who is poor?
What was built for protection?
Mesopotamia’s AccomplishmentsMesopotamia’s Accomplishments
World’s first World’s first literatureliterature, , written storieswritten stories EPICEPIC
A VERY, VERY long poemA VERY, VERY long poem Title was Title was GILGAMESHGILGAMESH
Story of a hero who Story of a hero who wants to be like the wants to be like the gods and live forevergods and live forever
The gods tell him NO! The gods tell him NO! He must die because he He must die because he is not allowed to live is not allowed to live foreverforever
Mesopotamia’s AccomplishmentsMesopotamia’s Accomplishments
MathematicsMathematics
Measured and dividedMeasured and divided circle into 360 degreescircle into 360 degrees
Divided time into hours Divided time into hours and minutes, each with and minutes, each with 60 parts60 parts
Mesopotamia’s AccomplishmentsMesopotamia’s Accomplishments
InventionsInventions PlowPlow
4 wheeled wagon4 wheeled wagon
Irrigation systemsIrrigation systems
Mesopotamia’s AccomplishmentsMesopotamia’s Accomplishments
Astronomy, knowledge of the moon, Astronomy, knowledge of the moon, planets, starsplanets, stars
Developed calendarDeveloped calendar Gave the planets names as godsGave the planets names as gods