Civilization Case Study: Ur in Sumer

Chapter 1Section 3

Key Terms

• Civilization• Specialization• Artisan• Institution• Scribe• Cuneiform• Bronze Age• Barter• Ziggurat

Villages Grow into Cities

• Economic changes– Irrigation systems for

more crops– Food surplus– Develop other skills– Wheel and sail invented– Trade developed

Villages Grow into Cities

• Social changes– Specific groups of

workers– Formed social classes – Religion more organized– Centered on nature and

animal spirits– New Stone Age many

gods and goddesses

How Civilization Develops

• Civilizations• 1-advanced cities• 2-specialized workers• 3-complex institutions• 4-record keeping• 5-advanced technology

Advanced Cities

• Birthplace of first civilizations

• Center of trade for larger area

• Depend on trade• Produced goods for

exchange

Specialized Workers

• Specialization- development of skills in a specific kind of work

• Artisans- made good by hand (metal, tools, pottery)

• Helped cities to become center of trade

Complex Institutions• Institution-a long lasting

pattern of organization in a community

• Soaring populations– Formed governments– Needed to establish laws

• Religion– Temples– Priests– City belonged to the gods– Served as economic center

Record Keeping

• Document taxes• Passage of law • Storage of grain• Keep track of calendars

and rituals• Systems of writing

Record Keeping

• Scribes-professional record keepers

• Cuneiform- meaning wedge shaped writing – Pictographs- symbols of

writing– Used a sharpened reed– Baked tables in the sun– Beginning of written

history (Sumer)

Improved Technology

• Ox drawn plows• Irrigation systems• Pottery wheel– Jugs, plates, bowls

• 2500 BC metal workers– Melt tin and bronze– Made spearheads

• Bronze Age-using bronze instead of copper and stone

Civilization Emerges in Ur

• Ur- one of the earliest cities

• 30,000 residents• Agricultural– Large scale irrigation– Food surpluses

• Life in the City– One story box homes– Merchants and artisans

Ur’s Thriving Trade

• Merchants on broad avenues

• Coins are not used• Trade pots of grain for a

jug of wine• Barter-the trading of

goods without using money

The Temple: center of City Life

• Ziggurat- pyramid shaped monument means “mountain of god”

• 100 steps to top• Priests conduct rituals• Sacrifice animals• Storage of grain, woven

fabrics, gems• Believe in afterlife