Transcript The learner will analyze the development of early civilizations in

Thought of the Day
On Tuesday, we discussed the Neolithic Age.
Through the use of new “technological
advancements”, the people shifted from huntergathers to what? Explain how this new change
effected people and society. We also talked
about how civilizations shared certain elements.
Identify the six elements of civilizations. What
element is the most important? Why? Write 5
complete sentences and turn in TOD’s (you
should have 4) on the cart.
The Development and
Achievements of the
Mesopotamia Civilization
Goal 2: Emerging Civilizations- The learner will
analyze the development of early civilizations in
Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas
Objective 2.01- Trace the development and assess the
achievements of early river civilizations, including but
not limited to those around the Huang-He, Nile,
Indus, and Tigris-Euphrates rivers.
Geography of Mesopotamia
• Valley between the Tigris & Euphrates rivers is
called Mesopotamia which means the land
“between the rivers”
• It is also apart of the fertile crescent
– Rich soil produced lots of crops which allowed
many people to live off the land early on
• Mesopotamia has little rain
• Layered by silt (material deposited by the 2
rivers)
Geography of Mesopotamia
• Tigris & Euphrates overflow in spring and deposited the
silt
– flood after snowing (people never knew when it was
coming)
– People learned how to control flow of rivers by using
irrigation and drainage ditches
• Helped farmers grow food regularly
• Abundance of food allowed lots of people to live in cities
together= therefore civilizations emerged…
• 3 Mesopotamia Civilization
– Assyria
– Akkad
– Sumer
• Sumerians were the creators of the 1st Mesopotamia civilization
Sumerian Cities
• Cities surrounded by walls
• Built with sun-dried brick
– Small homes for peasants/large for city officials &
priests
• Homes made people feel like family unit
• Had abundance of mud– made mud bricks by hand
– They invented the arch and the dome; largest brick
buildings in the world
– Still used today
Cities
surrounded
by brick
walls
Civilization Begins in Mesopotamia
• Ancient Mesopotamia- 3000BC they
established independent cities in
Mesopotamia such as: Eridu, Ur, and Uruk
• Cities expanded
• Gained economic and political control of
surrounding areas
– They formed city-states
• Self governing states with a city and
surrounding territory
Religion
• Harsh climate & famines made people think
that supernatural forces were controlling the
world
– Believed in nearly 3000 gods and goddesses
• Polytheistic- belief in many gods
• Humans were to obey and serve gods
• Gods were over the humans; unsure of what they’d do
Religion & Rulers
• Temple in Sumerian city dedicated to god of
city
– Temple on huge stepped tower is a ziggurat
– Believed gods owned the cities
– Usually the temples served as the center location
of the city
– Surplus of food stored here- to be distributed
(given out) or traded
Zigguarat
Religion & Rulers
• Sumerians believed the gods ruled the cities
– theocracy- government by divine authority
– Kings chosen by gods; had great powers led
armies, supervised city workers, etc.
Thought of the Day
If you were going to create your own
civilization, choose 5 things that are a MUST
HAVE in order to get things up and running.
Explain why these things are essential to your
civilization. Also, include 5 people that you
would trust to set up your civilization and help
run things. Explain why you chose them and
what job they would perform. You should
have at least 5 complete sentences.
Economy
- Based on farming, trade, & industry
- Woolen textiles
- Pottery
- Metalwork- silver, copper, & gold for jewelry
- Tin + copper= bronze
- Trade: fish, wool, barley, wheat, metal goods for
copper, tin, & timber
*Invention of wheel (3000BC) made it easier to
transport goods*
Society
Class System- society divided into social groups
1. Nobles (royal, priests, church officials)
2. Commoners (work for palace/temple, farmers,
merchants, fisherman, craftspeople)
3. Slaves (belonged to the palace & make buildings,
baskets, or farm)
Writing
• Sumerians created cuneiform (wedge shaped)
system of writing in 3000BC.
– Used reed stylus (tool)
– Wrote on clay tablet
• Writing was for record keeping
• To pass knowledge from person to person
• A scribe was the most important position in
society.
Thought of the Day
Describe a time you got in trouble. Did the
punishment fit the crime? Explain. You
should have 5 complete sentences.
Technology
• Wagon wheel
– Transported people & goods from place to place
• Sundial
– Measures the position of the sun indicating what
time of day it is
• Arch
• Bronze
Achievements
• Math
– Geometry to measure fields & construct buildings
– Number system based on 60
• Astronomy
– Study of stars, planets, comets, & galaxies
Empires
• City-states were expanding
– More conflicts over land & water
• Akkadians
– Leader: Sargon
– Took over Sumerian city-states
– Set up 1st empire in world history!
• An empire is a large state (or political unit) under
control of 1 leader that controls many people or
territories.
Empires
• Akkadian empire fell in 2100BC
• Babylon was ruled by Hammurabi
– Controlled Sumer & Akkad
– Died in 1750BC
Hammurabi’s Code
• Strict & severe laws
• Harsher punishments for commoners & slaves
than for the noblemen
• “An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth”