Transcript WARM UP

Vocabulary
 Fertile Crescent- Area of fertile land between the
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Tigris and Euphrates Rivers
City-state- City within a certain region that had its
own government, laws, & policies
Dynasty- System of rule passed down from one
generation to another
Cultural diffusion- The mixing of cultures
Polytheism- Belief in more than one God
WARM UP
 What one thing is necessary for a city to arise?
 What are the 5 characteristics of civilization?
MESOPOTAMIA
River Valley Civilizations
 All early river civilizations
are located in River Valleys
 “Mesopotamia” means
land between rivers
Mesopotamia
 Located between the
Tigris and Euphrates
Rivers
 Rivers flooded
Mesopotamia at least
once a year creating
fertile soil called Silt
 Area was known as “The
Fertile Crescent”
 Existed from about
3000BC-1550
Environmental Disadvantages
 Land almost a desert
because of
unpredictable floods
and little to no rain
 No natural barriers for
protection
 Natural resources were
limited, specifically
building materials
Problems Solved
 Irrigation ditches to carry
water from rivers to fields
 Built city walls with mud
bricks
 Traded goods with people
of mountains and deserts
for raw materials (stone,
wood, metal)
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Cultural diffusion-Spread of
ideas or products from one
culture to another
Advanced Cities
 Early Mesopotamia
developed as city-states
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Each city shared the same
culture but had its own
government and rulers
City States often fought one
another
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Ur was most significant
 Sargon of Akkad united all
of the city states and created
the first empire
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Empire brings peoples, nations
or states under the control of
one ruler
Babylonian Empire
 2000 B.C. nomadic
warriors known as
Amorites invade the
region
 Take control of Sumer
 Create capital on the
Euphrates River, called
Babylon
 Empire at strongest with
Hammurabi as leader
Specialized Workers
 Food Surpluses provided
the opportunity for
specialization
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People became artisans,
potters, weavers, jewelers,
scribes, gov’t officials &
priests
 Merchants would trade
goods for food
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Created Cultural Diffusion
 Slaves
 Soldiers
Technology
 Bronze Age began here
 Invented the wheel, sail
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and plow
Irrigation Systems
Developed number system
& first form of writingcuneiform
Advanced in medicine,
astronomy and chemistry
Architecture- Ziggurat
Iron Tools
Complex Institutions
 Religion was polytheistic
 Believed humans were
gods servants
 After life was harshUnderworld
 Ziggurat served as the City
Hall or center of City Life
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Priests performed rituals
Housed offerings to Gods
Bridge between heaven and
earth
Complex Institutions
 Early Govt’s were a
Theocracy
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Gov’t run by Religious
Leaders
 Monarchies eventually
develop leading to
Dynasties
 Assyrian Empire
introduced large, strong
military
Record Keeping
 Sumerian Cities each had their
own laws
 King Hammurabi of the
Babylonian Empire unified all of
the Cities under one Code of
Law – Hammurabi’s Code
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Code engraved in stone that
were placed all over empire
Protected women and children
Eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth
mentality
 Cuneiform
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gov’t officials document taxes,
laws and grain storage
Priests created a calendar
Merchants kept track of
payments & debts
Activity
 Hammurabi’s Code worksheet and fill in graphic
organizer
Wall Graffiti: Ancient Mesopotamia was a Great
Civilization!
Reflection
Explain how Mesopotamia was able to develop into
a civilization while living in a desert climate.
2. What difficulties were faced by the people in
Mesopotamia?
3. Explain the significance of King Hammurabi.
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