Bellwork

EQ4: How did physical location lead to the success and development of the Fertile Valley Civilizations?The physical location of Mesopotamia led to its

development and success because it was located in the Fertile Crescent, an area in Southwest Asia that had very rich soil. Mesopotamia was also surrounded by two rivers, the Tigris and the Euphrates. These rivers deposited rich silt, which made the soil good for planting crops and raising animals. The rivers also provided drinking water and other forms of food such as fish.

EQ #5:

What are the characteristics and accomplishments of the Fertile Crescent civilizations?

Word Wall Words rural urban city-state empire polytheism monotheism Judaism religion Torah occupation

social hierarchy impact epic barter monarchy cuneiform ziggurat Hammurabi’s Code government

The Rise of Sumer

The World’s First Civilization

The Development of An Advanced Society

Sumerians –

Nomadic

Farming

Village

City

City-state

What is a civilization?

Civilization - a culture marked by developments in arts, sciences, government, and social structure ; the stage of cultural development at which writing and the keeping of written records is attained

The City-States of Sumer

Made up of both rural and urban areasThe amount of countryside controlled

by each city-state depended on its military strength.

Fought each other to gain more farmland

Built walls around cities for greater protection

The Structure of a City-State

The Religion of Sumer

Religion was part of every aspect of Sumerian life. Practiced polytheism – believed in many gods

air, water, wisdom, war and love, sun and moon Each city-state was focused on one god Believed that gods had enormous power Everyone had a duty to serve and worship the

gods Priests-performed religious ceremonies; talked to

the gods for the people Believed gods lived in ziggurat

Sumerian Social Order

Social hierarchy kings

priests

craftspeople, merchants, traders farmers and laborers

slaves

Men and Women of Sumer

men had political power made laws military

women home children

Usually men were educated, but some upper-class women received educations.

Sumerian Achievements

Cuneiform – the first form of writing; originally developed for business records uses pictographs combined to relate

ideas Scribes – writer; hired to keep list of items

people traded – eventually used for everything

Sumerian students went to school to learn to read and write

Cuneiform

Sumerian Achievements Continued Epics

Gilgamesh

Wheel Plow Irrigation Calendar Medicine

Architecture Jewelry Metal weapons Musical

instruments