Sumerians & Early Empires

River ValleysCradles of

Civilization

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Critical IntroDescribe some problems, historically, you might see

with using the “5 Characteristics” to describe a

people as “Civilized”

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Critical IntroDescribe some reasons why the

region of Mesopotamia was a desirable place to control.

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Critical IntroThesis statement:

Why did early civilizations first emerge in river valleys?

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Critical IntroUse terms 11-15 in a comprehensive

paragraph about Mesopotamia.

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Critical IntroDescribe an example of regional trade

involving Sumer, and describe an example of interregional trade involving

Sumer.

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Critical Intro

Write a diary entry/paragraph describing a day in your life as a

Sumerian teenager.

Remember to incorporate the aspects of life from your

homework.

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Critical Intro.Creative Writing

Create/Write a myth explaining a naturally

occurring phenomenon.

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Critical Intro.Explain how Hammurabi’s Code reflected the social stratification

of Mesopotamia.

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zigguratPyramid-shaped Sumerian religious

temple

Civilization

River Valleys

Economic Patterns

Political Patterns

Religious Patterns

Social Patterns

• Hereditary rulers

• Dynasty – line of rulers from same family

• Class systems + slavery

• 1st city-states, kingdoms & empires

• City-state = city & surrounding land

• Centralized gov’t• Law codes

• metal tools + weapons

• increasing agricultural surplus

• increased river & sea trade

• Polytheism = belief in many gods.

• Priests• Organized

religion

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World Map - LabelAfricaAsiaEuropeAtlantic OceanIndian OceanPacific OceanMediterranean Sea

Make Key and Shade pp.4-54 River CivilizationsMesopotamia (green in atlas)Egypt (green in atlas)Indus Valley (green in atlas)Shang China (purple in atlas)

AmericasOlmecsChavin

Southwest Asia Map - LabelAnatoliaZagros MountainsArabian PeninsulaArabian DesertSyrian DesertEgyptMesopotamiaMediterranean SeaRed SeaPersian GulfTigris River (R.)Euphrates R.Nile R.

Cities - .UrLagash

Make Key and ShadeSumer (green area in atlas)Fertile Crescent (purple in atlas)

Olmec

Chavin

Southwest Asia

Anatolia

Syrian Desert

Arabian Desert

Arabian Peninsula

Eastern Hemisphere

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River Valley CivilizationsI. Mesopotamia - “Land between the rivers”A. Fertile Crescent = arc of land from Persian Gulf to Med. Sea

1. Mesopotamia - area of land within Fertile Crescent, between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers.2. Flooding rivers deposit silt (thick bed of river mud)= fertile soil3. Irrigation systems carried river water to the fields.4. Mesopotamia is located in modern-day Iraq.

B. Rise of Sumerian city-states1. city-state pops. of 5,000– 25,0002. Centered around ziggurats = religious temple3. Walled for protection

C. Sumerian Government1. city-states governed independently2. Powerful military leaders became kings/Priest kings = Theocracy3. Priests held high rank & gov’t power4. city-states ruled by dynasties (line of rulers from same family)D. Sumerian Writing = Cuneiform “wedge-shaped”1. 1st writing2. Press symbols into soft clay then dry or bake3. Keep records + trade documents4. Epic of Gilgamesh = world’s 1st literature

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E. Sumerian Religion1. Polytheism = belief in many gods; explained natural events2. Thousands of deities (gods and goddesses) controlled nature + life3. People felt they had little control; bleak view of death

F. Sumerian Inventions1. Wagon wheel2. arch3. sundial4. potter’s wheel5. number system6. 12 month calendar7. sail8. plow

II. World’s 1st EmpiresA. Akkadian Empire

1. Created when Sargon of Akkad conquered Sumerian city-statesB. Babylonian Empire

1. Created when Babylonians conquered Mesopotamia.2. Hammurabi = Powerful Babylonian king3. Hammurabi created first written law code –

Hammurabi’s Code

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Mesopotamia

Egypt

Tigris R.Euphrates R.Anatolia

Mediterranean Sea

Nile R.

Back

Sumer

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Sumerian wheel

Back

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Southwest Asia

Iraq Iran

Saudi Arabia

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Mesopotamian Deities

Polytheism = belief in many gods

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Irrigation• Moving water from

rivers to fields

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Cuneiform = Sumerian writing

Back

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Yearly floods deposit silt on the land.

River floods Plow and plantWater recedes,

leaves silt behind

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The Sumerian Ziggurat “Mountain of God”religious temple

Back

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The Epic of GilgameshWorld’s Oldest work of literature

Gilgamesh – King of UrukApprox. 2700 B.C.

Gilgamesh, two-thirds god and one-third human, is the greatest king on earth and the strongest super-human

that ever existed; however, he is young and oppresses his

people harshly.

Back

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Hammurabi – “The Law Giver”Babylonian king created law code of 282 laws and punishments

Back

Complete “Code” link

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Sumerians develop the arch.

Back

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sundial sail

plowOther Sumerian Inventions

calendar

Potters Wheel

Number system

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Sargon of Akkad creates world’s first empire = Akkadian Empire

Back

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Hammurabi rules Babylonian Empire

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Economic Patterns

Political Patterns

Religious Patterns

Social Patterns

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Back

The Sumerian Ziggurat “Mountain of God”religious temple

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Behistun Inscription in Turkey

(Deciphered Cuneiform)

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“Mesopotamians”Song/Video