Thought of the DayOn Tuesday, we discussed the Neolithic Age. Through the use of new “technological advancements”, the people shifted from hunter-gathers to what? Explain how this new change effected people and society. We also talked about how civilizations shared certain elements. Identify the six elements of civilizations. What element is the most important? Why? Write 5 complete sentences and turn in TOD’s (you should have 4) on the cart.

The Development and Achievements of the

Mesopotamia Civilization

Goal 2: Emerging Civilizations- The learner will analyze the development of early civilizations in

Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas

Objective 2.01- Trace the development and assess the achievements of early river civilizations, including but not limited to those around the Huang-He, Nile, Indus, and Tigris-Euphrates rivers.

Geography of Mesopotamia

• Valley between the Tigris & Euphrates rivers is called Mesopotamia which means the land “between the rivers”

• It is also apart of the fertile crescent– Rich soil produced lots of crops which allowed

many people to live off the land early on• Mesopotamia has little rain• Layered by silt (material deposited by the 2

rivers)

Geography of Mesopotamia • Tigris & Euphrates overflow in spring and deposited the

silt– flood after snowing (people never knew when it was coming)– People learned how to control flow of rivers by using

irrigation and drainage ditches• Helped farmers grow food regularly• Abundance of food allowed lots of people to live in cities together=

therefore civilizations emerged…

• 3 Mesopotamia Civilization– Assyria– Akkad– Sumer

• Sumerians were the creators of the 1st Mesopotamia civilization

Sumerian Cities

• Cities surrounded by walls• Built with sun-dried brick– Small homes for peasants/large for city officials &

priests• Homes made people feel like family unit• Had abundance of mud- – made mud bricks by hand– They invented the arch and the dome; largest brick

buildings in the world– Still used today

Cities surrounded by brick walls

Civilization Begins in Mesopotamia

• Ancient Mesopotamia- 3000BC they established independent cities in Mesopotamia such as: Eridu, Ur, and Uruk

• Cities expanded • Gained economic and political control of

surrounding areas– They formed city-states

• Self governing states with a city andsurrounding territory

Religion

• Harsh climate & famines made people think that supernatural forces were controlling the world– Believed in nearly 3000 gods and goddesses• Polytheistic- belief in many gods• Humans were to obey and serve gods• Gods were over the humans; unsure of what they’d do

Religion & Rulers

• Temple in Sumerian city dedicated to god of city – Temple on huge stepped tower is a ziggurat– Believed gods owned the cities– Usually the temples served as the center location

of the city– Surplus of food stored here- to be distributed

(given out) or traded

Zigguarat

Religion & Rulers

• Sumerians believed the gods ruled the cities– theocracy- government by divine authority– Kings chosen by gods; had great powers led

armies, supervised city workers, etc.

Thought of the Day

If you were going to create your own civilization, choose 5 things that are a MUST HAVE in order to get things up and running. Explain why these things are essential to your civilization. Also, include 5 people that you would trust to set up your civilization and help run things. Explain why you chose them and what job they would perform. You should have at least 5 complete sentences.

Economy- Based on farming, trade, & industry

- Woolen textiles- Pottery- Metalwork- silver, copper, & gold for jewelry

- Tin + copper= bronze- Trade: fish, wool, barley, wheat, metal goods for

copper, tin, & timber*Invention of wheel (3000BC) made it easier to

transport goods*

Society

Class System- society divided into social groups1. Nobles (royal, priests, church officials)2. Commoners (work for palace/temple, farmers,

merchants, fisherman, craftspeople)3. Slaves (belonged to the palace & make buildings,

baskets, or farm)

Writing• Sumerians created cuneiform (wedge shaped)

system of writing in 3000BC.– Used reed stylus (tool)– Wrote on clay tablet

• Writing was for record keeping• To pass knowledge from person to person• A scribe was the most important position in

society.

Thought of the Day

Describe a time you got in trouble. Did the punishment fit the crime? Explain. You should have 5 complete sentences.

Technology

• Wagon wheel– Transported people & goods from place to place

• Sundial– Measures the position of the sun indicating what

time of day it is• Arch• Bronze

Achievements

• Math– Geometry to measure fields & construct buildings– Number system based on 60

• Astronomy– Study of stars, planets, comets, & galaxies

Empires• City-states were expanding– More conflicts over land & water

• Akkadians– Leader: Sargon– Took over Sumerian city-states– Set up 1st empire in world history!• An empire is a large state (or political unit) under

control of 1 leader that controls many people or territories.

Empires

• Akkadian empire fell in 2100BC• Babylon was ruled by Hammurabi– Controlled Sumer & Akkad– Died in 1750BC

Hammurabi’s Code

• Strict & severe laws• Harsher punishments for commoners & slaves

than for the noblemen• “An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth”