8000bc-3000bc

Neolithic Period(The New Stone Age)

Ancient CivilizationsCatal Huyuk 6,500bc-5,000bcLocated in

Anatolia- a large mt. plateau in south central Turkey (Northwest of Mesopotamia)

Origin of AgricultureAbout 3,000 years

after the last ice age, nomadic people stumbled across Western Europe.

The warmer climate was more tolerable and produced fields of wild grains and grasses.

CivilizationA civilization is a

group of cohabitating people that demonstrate cooperation, organization, and specialization.

Why Catal Huyuk is a Civilization…

Cooperation- Trading took place between various groups of people

Organization- Houses and jobs were organized ie. Crop rows etc…

Specialization- citizens had various jobs that contributed to society

Catal Huyuk(Fork Mound)

32 acres1000 houses5,000-6,000

residents

Housing at Catal HuyukHouses were

connected and had an intricate pattern of ladders and roof access through out the homes

Catal HomesThese homes were

keep in pristine condition and were decorated with art of aesthetic and religious valueIe

Wall paintings, animal heads, figurines ect…

Ceilings AccessThe opens in the

ceilings allowed the residents to move from one home to another and worked as a chimney during the winter months.

Trade at Catal HuyukArcheologist have

discovered various obsidian tools with different chemical compounds suggesting C.H. was a central trade hub for the region.

Religion at Catal HuyukReligion was very

important to the people of CT. They built over 40 shrines.

The dead were given ceremonies and their bodies were buried in the plaster floors of CT.

The Fertile CrescentThe Fertile Crescent

is the land between and surrounding the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers.

Many early settlements started in and around this area.

Mesopotamia- Between 2 Rivers

(5300bc-539bc)

Mesopotamia is located between Tigris and Euphrates Rivers

The geography (mts., plains, and rivers) of the land made it very fertile.

MesopotamiaThe people of Meso.

irrigated (water canals) the farmland to prevent flooding and to provide water for crops.

Food was now in surplus (more than they could use).

Division of LaborThe division of labor

(specialized jobs for each citizen of the city) allowed the city to prosper.

City-States (1st Political Unit)

City-States (the cental city and countryside surrounding it) began popping up around the Fertile Crescent.

The Earliest of these civilizations was Sumer, founded in 3000bc and located in southern Mesopotamia.

The Rise and Fall of PowerAs society advance

and political powers arose.

The leaders of these various societies began building militias and fighting over land.

Rule of the land shifted between Sumer, Uruk, Ur, and Akkad.

GilgameshKing of Uruk

Legendary figure in Sumerian literature.

The Epic of Gilgamesh, the 1st epic (long poem), outline the tale of Gilgamesh and his stories of the pursuit of immortality.

The tablets, written in cuneiform, are among the earliest known stories in literature.

The Rise of the Akkadian EmpireLocated north of

SumerThe Akkadians were

of a different culture, but lived in peace for many years with the Sumerians until the 2,300’s BC

Sargon- Akkadian EmperorSargon built a new capital

on the Euphrates near what is now Baghdad. He was the first ruler to maintain a permanent Army. He declared war on all his neighbors and brought the entire northern Mesopotamia area under his rule. This became the World’s first empire- land with different territories and people under a single rule.

Ur- Regains Sumerian Control The Sumerian city-state of

Ur regained political control of the Mesopotamian area a century after Sargon’s death.

The city of Ur was the most advanced of its time.

Religion of SumerReligion was the

most important component of shaping society.

Sumerians practiced polytheism- the worship of many gods. They believed success in life depended on pleasing these gods.

PriestsLed religious

ceremonies and had great status in the community

They interpreted the wishes of the gods and made offerings in giant temples during religious ceremonies

Social Hierarchy1st Kings- chosen by gods

to rule2nd Priest- interpreted

wishes of gods and made offerings

3rd craftspeople, merchants and traders- travelled and brought in goods

4th farmers and laborers- made up the large working class

5th slaves- were at the bottom of the social order

Men and Women of SumerMen- held political

power, made laws and were educated.

Women- raised children, only a few wealthy women were educated.Enheduanna- Sargon’s

daughter, was educated and is believed to be the 1st female writer in history.

Sumerian Advances and Inventions

The wheelCartsClay spinning wheel

The plowThe water powered

clockSewer systemsBronze weaponsMakeup and

jewelery

Other AchievementsDeveloped 60 digit

math system, 360 degree circle, 12 month year, and calculated areas

Made medicines, medical journals, and treated systems and body parts

They were the 1st to build ziggurats- large pyramid temples

Later People of the Fertile Crescent

By 2000BC, Ur lay in ruins and waves of invaders fought to take control of the area.

Babylonians was one of these groups.

Babylonian EmpireBy 1800BC,

Babylon had a powerful government and King in Hammurabi.

Babylon’s second chance was built to succeed because of his rule.

Hammurabi’s CodeHammurabi was a

brilliant leader. He won on the battle field, used tax dollars to build the city and irrigate its land, but most importantly created a list of 282 laws to govern the empire.

The empire fell after his death.

HittitesHittites were masterful

fighters and ironworkers, mastering the technique of fighting from a chariot- a wheeled horse drawn cart.

Hittites ruled Babylon for a short while, until the Kassites took the reign for the next 400 years.

AssyriansThe Assyrians briefly

ruled Babylon in 1200BC and for a longer term 300 years later in 900BC.

During the second term the rulers were more fierce, feared and demanding of the citizens.

ChaldeansThe Assyrians self-

destructed and fought internally.

The Chaldeans attacked and destroyed the Nineveh and Assyrian Empires.

Nebuchadnezzar rebuild Babylon beautifully, featuring the famous hanging gardens.

PhoeniciansLocated west of the

Fertile Crescent rose the nation of Phoenicia, now Lebanon.

The master craftsmen and sailors revolutionized the trade industry. They became very wealthy and powerful.

They also created the 1st alphabet