Transcript The Ancient Middle East-4500BC

The Ancient Middle East-4500BC-331BC
Fertile Crescent




An area that stretches in a
large arc from the Persian
Gulf to the Mediterranean
Sea.
The word Mesopotamia
means "The land between
two rivers."
Named for the regions
fertile soil and crescent
shape.
Located between the Tigris
and Euphrates Rivers.
“Cross Roads of the World”

Connects the land routes for 3 continents: Africa,
Asia and Europe.
Problems in Mesopotamia




HERODOTUS (484?-425? BC)
World Map
No one culture controlled
area (War)
Unpredictable floods
(draught or damage)
Few Natural Resources for
building a civilization
Few natural barriers to
protect from invasion. (The
area was frequently overrun
by invaders.)
Sumerians 4000BC-2350 BC
First Civilization
1. City-State-a large town or city and the
surrounding countryside
cooperating as its own nation
A. Constantly at war with each other
2. Empire – Many city-states and
cultures conquered and
controlled by one ruler
Sumerian Government
Theocracy –
1.
1.
Priests ruled because they could
control the gods
Dynasty
2.
2.
3.
Military leaders were often given
power during time of war
Eventually, they would replace priests
and pass their power onto their own
heirs, creating a dynasty
Sumerian Religion
2.
a)
b)
c)
d)
Ziggurat- the home or temple
of the god of the city,
believed to be a ladder to the
heavens
Polytheism
Gods and goddesses ruled
the earth and determined
the fate of individuals and
cities
Sumerians feared their
gods
Gods sent floods or famine
Sumerian Language
3.
a)
b)
c)
Cuneiform- system of
writing using wedge-like
shapes
First language that
moves away from the
use of pictograms
Scribes wrote down
laws, treaties, business
transactions and
religious texts
Schools were set up for
boys
Sumerian Accomplishments




Cultural Diffusion – process in which a new idea or
product spreads from one culture to another
First people know to use the wheel, arches, ramp and
inclined walks
Developed a 12 month calendar
Arithmetic based on the number 60, seconds, minutes
and 360 degrees in a circle
Back
Herodotus’ World Map
“Civilization in Mesopotamia”


Read the short article
Complete the graphic organizer on the back
with a partner