Bell Activity:Read the following sections:2.3 (pg. 16 only)2.42.5 (pg. 19 & top half of pg. 20) While reading define the following terms:DomesticationCultural Diffusion*CivilizationCity-State

Focus QuestionFocus Question

What are the major characteristics of the Neolithic period?

The major characteristics of the Neolithic period are…

Fertile Crescent & Beginnings of Fertile Crescent & Beginnings of CivilizationCivilization

Five Characteristics of Five Characteristics of CivilizationCivilization

1. Advanced cities2. Specialized workers3. Complex institutions4. Record keeping 5. Advanced technology

Map of SumerMap of Sumer

Mesopotamia: Land Between the Mesopotamia: Land Between the RiversRivers

Soil enriched by Tigris & Euphrates rivers… settlements built on the

plains

Sun-dried clay bricks used as construction material

Part I: UrPart I: Ur

Population – 30,000 Location on Euphrates

River in Southern Iraq Advanced trading city Developed bronze

Cultural roots of the Cultural roots of the CivilizationCivilization

Origins unknown Settlements date to 5200

BCE for some city-states

3000 BCE onwards their history was recorded w/ decoded writing*

Contributions to Civilization- Contributions to Civilization- 11

Cuneiform writing Wedge shaped

writing on clay tablets

using a stylus*

SumerianSumerian

Oldest known written language

Survived as written language until cuneiform tradition fell into disuse around the time of Christ*

Sumerian CuneiformSumerian Cuneiform

Flood Tablet Flood Tablet of Gilgameshof Gilgamesh(cuneiform)(cuneiform)

British

Museum

Contributions to Civilization - Contributions to Civilization - 22

System of numbers based on the unit of 60

which we use today to measure time

Contributions to Civilization – Contributions to Civilization – 33

Architecture/ ziggurats “mountain of god” center of life in Ur well guarded treasure

house

Sumeria: Ziggurat Sumeria: Ziggurat reconstructionreconstruction

ZigguratZiggurat

Other Contributions Other Contributions

Wheel, sail, plow

Bronze

Scientific investigations

Economy of UrEconomy of Ur

Based on agriculture

Trade flourished Egypt to India Economy dominated by

wealthy merchants

SumeriaSumerian housen house

GovernmentGovernment

Divided into independent warring city-states Priests governed first… Kings ruled later

Social DivisionsSocial Divisions

Priests & kings made up an aristocracy

Wealthy merchants Free craftsmen & farmers Slaves (war captives)

PolytheisticPolytheistic Religion*Religion*

Evolution in worship from…forces of nature to… Gods who acted as humans do… Gods who were omnipotent—all

powerful

Praying Praying figures figures

from the from the royal royal

tombs tombs Ur

2500 BCE

GoddesGoddess Inanas Inana Warrior,

lover, source of beauty and culture

Role of WomenRole of Women

Controlled their dowry & engaged in business

Ruled Not equal to men

** Adultery for women was punished by death

Early Sumerian TabletEarly Sumerian Tablethttp://www.museum.upenn.edu/new/Games/cuneiform.shtmlhttp://www.museum.upenn.edu/new/Games/cuneiform.shtml

3100-2900 BCE

Decline of Sumerian City-Decline of Sumerian City-StatesStates

Salinization of soil led to economic decline

War City-states faced with

invasion by Akkadians

Conflict EruptsConflict Erupts

Sumerians v. Semitic peoples from Arabian deserts

Sargon of Akkad was a Semite took over Sumer

Sargon of Sargon of AkkadAkkad Took over Sumeria

Capital City Babylon

Established first empire 2350 BCE

AkkadiaAkkadian n

EmpireEmpire

                                     

Hammurabi,Hammurabi, “ “King of the Four King of the Four Quarters of the WorldQuarters of the World””

Ruled in Babylon 1792-1750 BCE

Famous for law code

Took over all Mesopotamia

Empire collapsed soon after his death

Hammurabi Hammurabi

MonumentMonument 1800 BCE1800 BCE(Louvre)(Louvre)

Musee du Musee du Louvre, ParisLouvre, Paris

The Stone Pillar of Hammurabi

Babylonian Babylonian Contributions - 1Contributions - 1

Code of Hammurabi Sharp class divisions Fair treatment for women Stern sense of justice— “eye of

an eye” Business law

Babylonian Babylonian contributions - 2contributions - 2

Astronomy Charted the heavens Could predict eclipses Thought planets

controlled lives of humans.

Babylonian Babylonian contributions - 3contributions - 3

Religious Literature Creation story Building of an ark and a

great flood that resembles Old Testament

AssyriaAssyria

Assyrian Empire Assyrian Empire 1300 BCE – 612 BCE1300 BCE – 612 BCE

Northern Mesopotamia Period of greatness lasted

only a century

Culture based on Babylon & ancient Sumer (preserved in libraries)

Mighty AssyriansMighty Assyrians

Used terror and atrocities on enemies

Most hated of the ancients Art forms celebrated war &

slaughter

AssyriaAssyrian n

EmpireEmpire

                                     

Assyrian Empire MapAssyrian Empire Map

Assyrian ContributionsAssyrian Contributions

Government Provinces Military roads

Ashurbanipal’s Library Located at Nineveh 1,000s of preserved

tablets

WingedWingedbulls bulls from the from the palace palace of Sargon IIof Sargon II

((musee du Louvre)musee du Louvre)

The New Babylonians aka The New Babylonians aka ChaldeansChaldeans

((612-539 BCE)612-539 BCE)

Overthrew Assyrian rule Famous ruler:

Nebuchadnezzar He captured Jerusalem

Capital: Babylon Contributions:

Architecture & Astronomy

Babylonian Babylonian AchievementsAchievements

Influenced entire ancient world, esp. Hebrews & Greeks … strong Bible connections Greek literature Greek geometry Astronomy, astrology