Mesopotamian Civilization: Part 1Begun 8/18/2014

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What happened before Mesopotamian Civilization?

* Paleolithic Age2.5 million years ago to

@ 8000 B.C.

*Neolithic Age @ 8000 B.C. to@ 3000 B.C.

Development of Ancient River Valley Civilizations

●aka = “Cradles of Civilizationo3500 BCE

●Rivers needed for irrigation of crops

•1.Mesopotamiao–1.Tigris R. & Euphrates R.

•2.Egypto–1.Nile R.

•3.Indiao–1.Indus R.

•4.Chinao–1.Huang He

First Four River Valley CivilizationsCradles of Civilization

Nile River

Nile River

Mesopotamia

Nile River

Mesopotamia

Indus River

Nile River

Mesopotamia

Indus River

Huang He

Nile River

Mesopotamia

Indus River

Huang He

Why are they called ‘Cradles of

Civilization?’

Characteristics of Civilization

●Complex Social InstitutionsoGovernment

Organized

oComplex Religions Polytheistic

●Advanced TechnologyoIrrigation Systems

oEngineering Palaces/Temples

●Division of LaboroSpecialization of Labor

oArtisans

●CalendaroKeep track of flooding &

religious ceremonies

●Written LanguageoKeep records of

agriculture/taxes

MesopotamiaMeso = Middle

Po = River

Tamia = Land

Part of an area known as the

Fertile

Crescent

What is a city-state?

●•Independent city surrounded by farmland●•Ruled by individual rulers

Farmland

City

Oldest cities in the World are

thought to be Sumer’s.

Farmland

What types of governments began during this time?

Dynasties – * series of rulers from the same family

*usually a Monarchy

Besides rulers, who ranked at the top of social classes?

Priests – people believed they

spoke with the gods.

What were the Sumerian temples?

Ziggurats

What were the Sumerian temples?

Ziggurats – ●•temple & religious

center ●• stored grain

●• housed priests

1. Known as a step pyramid

2. Emphasis(?) = altar at the top

Actual Sumerian Ziggurat

Sumerian Ziggurat ca. 3500 B.C.E.

Mayan Pyramid ca.

700 C.E.

What inventions can be attributed to the Sumerians?

wheel

sail

plow

And….

The City

And….

The umbrella!

The most important invention?....World’s first form of written

language…

Cuneiform

Examples

Created using small wedge-shaped stylus on clay tablets

(1:08)

Sumer (5:29)

The Epic of Gilgamesh* Oldest known written story

*Follows the adventures of the Sumerian King of Uruk

Mesopotamian Civilization: Part 2

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Quiz Friday!

Essential Knowledge

13. What were the 1st 4 River Valley Civilizations?14. What was the name of the earliest known civilization?15. What is an independent city surrounded by farmland?16. What is the earliest known written language?

What other civilizations came about during/after the

Sumerians?

1.Akkadians2.Babylonians3.Phoenicians4.Assyrians5.Hebrews

Akkadians●Greatest Leader = Sargon

●1st to create an Empire

oconquered city-states of

Sumer●Lasted only 200 years ofighting within empireofamine

Sargon of Akkad – 1st Emperor

The Babylonians●•Overtook Sumerians ●•Capital city = Babylon

●•Greatest Ruler =

Hammurabi●•Hammurabi’s greatest contribution = World’s first law code.

Hammurabi’s Law Code●Specific punishments for specific actions

●Property issues ●Harsh punishments.●Social classes punished/rewarded differently

Think/raise/speak (30 seconds)- Is this fair? Why or why not?

Eye for an Eye mentality.Upper classes treated differently from lower classes

Essential Knowledge

17. Who was the World’s 1st Emperor?18. Which Mesopotamian Civilization had Hammurabi as their greatest ruler?19. What was Hammurabi’s greatest achievement?20. True or False: All people were equal under Hammurabi’s Law Code?

Okay, Let’s Review!

What is the term for an independent city which is surrounded by farmland?

A city-state

What was the first civilization to create cities?

Sumer

What were some of the inventions of the

Sumerians?

1.Plow

2.Umbrella

3.Wheel

4.Cities

5.Language

What was their written language called?

Cuneiform

Who was the Akkadian leader who first created an empire?

Sargon

What civilization created a great capital on the banks of

the Euphrates?

The Babylonians

What great Babylonian leader created the first law code?

Hammurabi