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.
Transcript
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
