Journal TopicJournal Topic

Mathma Gandhi, a leader of India, Mathma Gandhi, a leader of India, believed that political change and believed that political change and justice should be gained without justice should be gained without violence. Do you think violence is violence. Do you think violence is ever justified? Explain your ever justified? Explain your answer and give examples?answer and give examples?

City States of Ancient City States of Ancient SumerSumer

Sections 3 and 4Sections 3 and 4

Ancient SumerAncient Sumer

Geography of the Geography of the fertile crescentfertile crescentLand between the Land between the

riversrivers Mesopotamia is Mesopotamia is

located between located between the Tigris and the Tigris and Euphrates river. Euphrates river.

The two rivers flow The two rivers flow from the highlands from the highlands of modern day of modern day Turkey through Iraq Turkey through Iraq into the Persian Gulf into the Persian Gulf

Floods and IrrigationFloods and Irrigation Rivers frequently Rivers frequently

rose in terrifying rose in terrifying floods that washed floods that washed away topsoil and away topsoil and destroyed mud brick destroyed mud brick villages.villages.

Under the Under the leadership of leadership of priests, villagers priests, villagers built dikes to hold built dikes to hold back flood water.back flood water.

Sumerian CivilizationSumerian Civilization

Government and SocietyGovernment and Society

The ruler was responsible for maintaining The ruler was responsible for maintaining the city walls and the irrigation system.the city walls and the irrigation system.

The ruler was seen as the chief servant of The ruler was seen as the chief servant of the gods and led ceremonies designed the gods and led ceremonies designed to please them.to please them.

Social Hierarchy: ruling family, lesser Social Hierarchy: ruling family, lesser priests or scribes, and peasant farmers.priests or scribes, and peasant farmers.

Role of WomenRole of Women

The role of women in Sumerian The role of women in Sumerian society reflected mother goddess society reflected mother goddess in farming communities.in farming communities.

Supervised palace workshops and Supervised palace workshops and ruled for the king when he was ruled for the king when he was absent.absent.

Well to do women engaged in Well to do women engaged in trade and own property.trade and own property.

Sumerian ReligionSumerian Religion

Ancient Sumerians were Ancient Sumerians were polytheistic.polytheistic.

Sumerians viewed Gods Sumerians viewed Gods almost like mortals in almost like mortals in that they were able to that they were able to eat, drink, and become eat, drink, and become married.married.

The goal of Sumerians The goal of Sumerians were to keep the Gods were to keep the Gods pleased because the pleased because the Gods favored truth and Gods favored truth and justice, they were also justice, they were also responsible for violence responsible for violence and suffering. and suffering.

…………………….Continued.Continued

Sumerians built a Ziggurat that paid Sumerians built a Ziggurat that paid homage to the Gods.homage to the Gods.

People offered sacrifices such as People offered sacrifices such as animals, grain, and wine.animals, grain, and wine.

Like the Egyptians, the Sumerians Like the Egyptians, the Sumerians believed in the afterlife. believed in the afterlife. Conversely, Sumerians saw the Conversely, Sumerians saw the underworld as a dim or murky place.underworld as a dim or murky place.

Advances in LearningAdvances in Learning

Sumerians used a form of Sumerians used a form of communication known as cuneiform. communication known as cuneiform.

It was used to record myth, prayers, It was used to record myth, prayers, laws, treaties and business contracts.laws, treaties and business contracts.

Sumerian scholars made advances in Sumerian scholars made advances in math by dividing the hour into 60 math by dividing the hour into 60 minutes and the circle into 360 degrees.minutes and the circle into 360 degrees.

Examining the skies enabled Priests to Examining the skies enabled Priests to create accurate calendars to improve create accurate calendars to improve the farming society.the farming society.

PausePause

(Do not copy)(Do not copy) ““If the robber is not caught, then shall he who If the robber is not caught, then shall he who

was robbed claim under oath the amount of was robbed claim under oath the amount of his loss; then shall the community, and ... on his loss; then shall the community, and ... on whose ground and territory and in whose whose ground and territory and in whose domain it was compensate him for the goods domain it was compensate him for the goods stolen.”stolen.”

““If persons are stolen, then shall the If persons are stolen, then shall the community and ... pay one mina of silver to community and ... pay one mina of silver to their relatives.” their relatives.”

““If fire break out in a house, and some one If fire break out in a house, and some one who comes to put it out cast his eye upon the who comes to put it out cast his eye upon the property of the owner of the house, and take property of the owner of the house, and take the property of the master of the house, he the property of the master of the house, he shall be thrown into that self-same fire.” shall be thrown into that self-same fire.”

Code of HammurabiCode of Hammurabi

Hammurabi controlled much of Hammurabi controlled much of Mesopotamia around 1790 B.C.Mesopotamia around 1790 B.C.

He is well known for his publication “ He is well known for his publication “ The Code of Hammurabi.” (282 laws The Code of Hammurabi.” (282 laws written on 12 tablets)written on 12 tablets)

He was the first ruler to codify all of He was the first ruler to codify all of the laws that would govern a state.the laws that would govern a state.

Criminal LawCriminal Law

In the past, victims were allowed In the past, victims were allowed to take the law into their own to take the law into their own hands. hands.

““Vengeance is Mine”Vengeance is Mine” Hammurabi’s code set out Hammurabi’s code set out

specific punishments for specific specific punishments for specific offenses. offenses.

Civil LawCivil Law

This branch of government dealt with This branch of government dealt with the invasion of rights such as business the invasion of rights such as business contracts, property inheritances, contracts, property inheritances, marriage, and even divorce.marriage, and even divorce.

“ “ If a woman so hated her husband If a woman so hated her husband that she has declared, “You may not that she has declared, “You may not have me”.have me”.

Pause. How was civil law different from Pause. How was civil law different from criminal law?criminal law?

Nebuchadnezzar Nebuchadnezzar (Arrogant Dictator)(Arrogant Dictator) He was an “I” manHe was an “I” man Nebuchadnezzar did Nebuchadnezzar did

successfully revive successfully revive the Babylon empire the Babylon empire through the through the rebuilding of cities, rebuilding of cities, canals, aqueducts, canals, aqueducts, and reservoirs. and reservoirs.

He relied heavily on He relied heavily on his wealth and his his wealth and his warriors.warriors.

The Roots of JudaismThe Roots of Judaism

Abraham is considered the founder of Abraham is considered the founder of the Israelite nation.the Israelite nation.

The Israelites were monotheistic The Israelites were monotheistic believing in one true God.believing in one true God.

The Ten commandments are used to The Ten commandments are used to guide the Jewish faith.guide the Jewish faith.

Prophets such as Isaiah and Jeremiah Prophets such as Isaiah and Jeremiah warned that failure to obey God’s law warned that failure to obey God’s law would lead people to disaster.would lead people to disaster.

Review Questions (Please use Review Questions (Please use your notes and the text to your notes and the text to answer the following answer the following questions)questions) 1. Between which two rivers was 1. Between which two rivers was

Mesopotamia located?Mesopotamia located? 2. What were the responsibilities of the 2. What were the responsibilities of the

rulers of each city state?rulers of each city state? 3.Who made up three classes in the 3.Who made up three classes in the

Sumerian social hierarchy?Sumerian social hierarchy? 4. What was the role of women in 4. What was the role of women in

Sumerian society?Sumerian society? 5. In what three areas of learning did 5. In what three areas of learning did

the Sumerians excel?the Sumerians excel?

……..Continued..Continued

6. What was the significance of 6. What was the significance of the Code of Hammurabi?the Code of Hammurabi?

7. What did Nebuchadnezzar do 7. What did Nebuchadnezzar do to help Mesopatamia floruish?to help Mesopatamia floruish?

8. Which leader united the 8. Which leader united the Hebrew tribes into a single Hebrew tribes into a single nation?nation?