Sumerian Civilization
The Land
Fertile Crescent (p. 30) Land between the Tigris
and Euphrates is called Mesopotamia
Flooding occurred often, but could not be predicted Used irrigation to get water
to crops
Fertile Crescent
Surrounded by dry lands and mountains Deserts not as barren as those
surrounding Egypt What might this mean for
people living in the area? Constant Cycle
Invasion after invasion
Sumer
SE section of Fertile Crescent Very fertile near the Persian
Gulf Over time, a Sumerian culture
was created Writings
Pictographs- one of the earliest forms of writing
Cuneiform- Sumerian writing developed from pictographs
Achievements of the Sumerians
Architecture Arches Ziggurats- often served
religious purposes Science
Wheel Divided a circle into 360
degrees Separated each degree
into 60 min. 60 sec. Lunar calendar
Sumerian Society
City-state Included the town or city
and the surrounding land it controlled
Sumer contained many city-states
Ur, Erech, and Kish Rarely united under a
single government
Sumerian Society
King
High Priests and Nobles
Lower priests, merchants, and scholars
Peasant farmers
Slaves kidnapped or captured during war
Sumerian Society Farming
Most Sumerians were farmers, but they grew enough food to allow others to work as artisans or traders
Education Upper-class boys attended
school Religion
Polytheists An-Lord of Heaven Enlil-God of air and storms Enki- God of water and
wisdom
Empires of the Fertile Crescent
Sumerians 5000 B.C.-2330 B.C.
Akkadians Babylonians
1792 B.C.-1155 B.C. Hittites
1600 B.C.-1200 B.C. Assyrians
1300’s B.C.-612 B.C. Chaldeans
612 B.C.-539 B.C. Persians
539 B.C.-331 B.C.
Akkadians
2330 B.C.-1792 B.C. Sargon
Most powerful Akkadian king
Ruled from 2334 B.C.-2279 B.C.
Established a great empire
See p. 35
Babylonians
1792 B.C.-1155 B.C. Hammurabi
Strong ruler Code of Hammurabi
282 laws Eye for an eye See quote p. 36
Punishments were different for the rich
Adopted much of the culture of the Sumerians
Believed priests could see the future
Activity Split into 4 groups Decide whether you are in favor or against the strict Code of Hammurabi and explain why in AT LEAST 5 sentences Everyone should contribute their ideas Below are a few more laws taken from the Code
195. If a son strike his father, his hands shall be hewn off. 196. If a man put out the eye of another man, his eye shall be put out. 197. If he break another man's bone, his bone shall be broken. 198. If he put out the eye of a freed man, or break the bone of a freed man, he shall pay one gold mina. 199. If he put out the eye of a man's slave, or break the bone of a man's slave, he shall pay one-half of its value. 200. If a man knock out the teeth of his equal, his teeth shall be knocked out.
Hittites
1600 B.C.-1200 B.C. Hittite Law
Only harsh crimes received the death penalty
Most crimes required fines to be paid
Conquered Babylon Too far from home to control
it permanently One of the first groups to
smelt iron Weakened after invasions
by Sea Peoples
Assyrians
1300’s B.C.-612 B.C. See map on p. 37 Fierce Warriors
Chariots Cavalry-first to use this
method Used terror to control enemies
Epic of Gilgamesh- 6 min Nineveh was the capital
Built huge wall for protection 7.5 miles around and over 70
feet high
Assyrians cont.
Governance One of the first groups to
effectively govern a large empire
King ruled all Local governors ruled
conquered lands and reported to the king
Civil War broke out in 635 B.C. Weakened Assyria could
not resist invasion by the Chaldeans and the Medes
Chaldeans
612 B.C.-539 B.C. Nebuchadnezzar
Governed the rebuilt city of Babylon from 605 B.C.-562 B.C.
Read about the Hanging Gardens p. 38
Achievements Skilled astronomers and
mathematicians Calculated the length of a
year with great accuracy Predicted eclipses
Persians
539 B.C.-331 B.C. Cyrus the Great
Rebelled and conquered the Medes
Expanded the empire Darius the Great and his
son, Xerxes I Expanded the empire even
more Mightiest empire in history
up to that time See map p. 39
Persians
Effective, fair rulers Allowed conquered peoples
to keep religions and laws Secret Agents were, “The
King’s Eyes and Ears” No one knew who these
people were, so it helped keep regional governors and leaders in check
Roads- The Royal Road Connected the entire empire Increased transportation
and trade
Persians
Religion-Polytheistic until 600 B.C.
Zoroaster- changed the religious outlook Life on Earth was training for
future life Struggle of good vs. evil
Those who choose good will be rewarded, while those choosing evil will be punished
Influenced Judaism and Christianity Good vs. Evil and Final
Judgement
Fall of the Persians
Later kings lacked leadership abilities
331 B.C. Persian army defeated by
Alexander the Great
A.D. 226 Revived for a time by ruler
named Ardashir Also brought back
Zoroastrianism
Activity
Complete the chart below 12 points Cons include elements that led to the empire’s downfall
Empire Pros Cons
Akkadians
Babylonians
Hittites
Assyrians
Chaldeans
Persians
Top Related