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4 early River Valley Civilizations • Sumerian Civilization - Tigris & Euphrates Rivers (Mesopotamia) • Egyptian Civilization - Nile River • Harappan Civilization - Indus River • Ancient China - Huang He (Yellow) River PP Design of T. Loessin; Akins H.S. 1. What two rivers run through the Fertile Crescent? Tigris & Euphrates Rivers 2. Which two river valley civilizations are shown on this map? Egypt & Mesopotamia 3. In what present day country is Mesopotamia located? Iraq POSITIVE NEGATIVE abundant few amount of clay easy till-able soil water supply from Tigris-Euphrates Rivers natural resources minimal protection from deserts and mountains *NOTES* ANCIENT MESOPOTAMIA (4000 B.C.) “land in between the rivers” Why was this a perfect place for the 1st civilization? 1. Fertile Crescent - large arc of fertile land in the Middle East 2. Tigris & Euphrates Rivers made it possible for farming 3. Cattle, pigs, goats & sheep were accessible *NOTES* WHAT CHALLENGES DID PEOPLE FACE IN MESOPOTAMIA? 1. Unpredictable floods destroyed crops, homes & people 2. Some areas were marshy and unsuitable for farming 3. This land was vulnerable to attack and invasion City-States in Mesopotamia I. GEOGRAPHY Sumerians were first to settle in this region, attracted by the rich soil. B. Three Disadvantages / Environmental Challenges 1. Unpredictable flooding / dry summer months 2. No natural barriers for protection - small villages lying in open plain were defenseless 3. Limited natural resources (stone, wood, metal) C. Solutions 1. Irrigation ditches Sumerian innovations in achieving civilization 2. Built city walls with set example others would follow. mud bricks 3. Traded with people But to arrive at these solutions, around them for the products required organized government. they lacked. Let’s now look at the type of government the Sumerians had. Initiated Bronze PP Design of T. Loessin; Akins H.S. PP Design of T. Loessin; Akins H.S. Teacher’s Notes: 1. Discuss (review) with the students what life was like for people when they were hunters and gatherers. Then, discuss changes that took place in society to bring early people into the Neolithic Age. The five characteristics of civilization – including government & Laws 2. To the Board Next, ask the students to brainstorm with you as you come up with positive and negative aspects of people starting to live in villages, towns, and large communities. Write these ideas on the board or on an overhead projector. A possible list may include the following: Positive Aspects Negative Aspects protection from danger army, taxes, slavery greater supplies of food waste disposal opportunity for commerce governing large groups of citizens new job opportunities. The list could go on and on. It may take a bit of leading, but eventually, the students will come up with the problems governing large groups of people. People have been killing, stealing, and maiming for quite a long time. How did the earliest civilizations handle these situations? Have we made any progress in four thousand years? Hammurabi wasn't the first ruler to establish a code of laws. Earlier records date back four hundred years. Many of Hammurabi's laws, as it turns out, were exact copies of earlier Sumerian laws. His code, however, is the best preserved legal document giving us an idea of the life and social structure of the people during Hammurabi's reign. It is now time for your students to determine if he was an enlightened, benevolent ruler, or a cruel, demanding tyrant. You’re going to create a Mesopotamian Farming manual You will have a total of 6 steps, describe the steps in order and next to each description draw a picture that represents the step. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Local officials decide when to let water flow onto crops Farmers let animals graze in soil to trample and eat weeds. Farmers break up the soil using hand tools Spread seeds and plow Plant seeds Harvest the plants city-state Definition: A self-governing state consisting of a city and surrounding territory Context: Nippur was the most important city-state in Sumer. cuneiform Definition: The system of writing used by the ancient Sumerians Context: Cuneiform writing looks more like symbols than pictures. demon Definition: An evil spirit Context: According to Sumerian legend, Gilgamesh killed the demon Huwawa with the help of the sun god. epic Definition: A long poem telling the deeds of a hero and often centering on the ideals of a nation or culture Context: The Epic of Gilgamesh teaches us to enjoy the time we have on Earth. immortality Definition: The quality or state of having an endless life Context: Gilgamesh was unable to achieve immortality, but he was able to leave behind a legacy through the work he had done during his lifetime. Mesopotamia Definition: An ancient land located where we find the modern country of Iraq Context: Mesopotamia means, “land between the rivers” and got its name because it was located between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. Nippur Definition: A major city-state in the ancient Sumerian region of Mesopotamia Context: Nippur was a busy trading center in Sumer and its most important religious city. scribe Definition: A person paid to write, especially in ancient times Context: Mesopotamian scribes worked closely with the priests and kings. stylus Definition: A hard, pointed writing tool cut from a reed Context: Sumerian scribe wrote with styluses they made from reeds. Sumerians Definition: Residents of Sumer, a region of the ancient land of Mesopotamia Context: The Sumerians developed many inventions, such as the wheel and the plow. tablet Definition: A flat slab – often of clay or stone – suitable for an inscription Context: The Sumerians etched symbols into wet clay tablets to create a permanent document of their activities. 1. What was the importance of scribes in Mesopotamia? 2. Why did the scribes have greater access to the priests and kings than other people in the city-states? 3. How long did it take to train a scribe? 4. What is the name of the training school where scribes learn how to write? ancestors Definition: People in one’s family, from whom one is descended Context: Your ancestors include your grandparents, great grandparents, and great-great grandparents. . cuneiform Definition: The system of writing used by the ancient Sumerians Context: Cuneiform writing consists of characters with wedge-shaped parts. domestication Definition: The taming of wild animals to use for farming or to be kept as pets Context: The domestication of sheep and goats helped the Mesopotamians become farmers. Euphrates River Definition: One of the rivers that borders what was the land of Mesopotamia. Context: The Euphrates River bordered Mesopotamia to the west. . journal Definition: A record of personal experiences and thoughts kept on a regular basis Context: Writing a journal can help you understand yourself. levee Definition: Earthen dams constructed to hold back floodwaters Context: A levee system helped the Mesopotamians farm their most fertile land. Mesopotamia Definition: An ancient land located where we find the modern country of Iraq Context: Mesopotamia means, “land between the rivers” and got its name because it was located between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. . Nippur Definition: A major city-state in the ancient Sumerian region of Mesopotamia Context: Nippur was a busy trading center in Sumer and its most important religious city. scribe Definition: A person paid to write, especially in ancient times Context: The job of a scribe was considered important in Sumer. stylus Definition: A hard, pointed writing tool cut from a reed Context: Sumerians pressed the point of a stylus into wet clay in order to write. . Sumerians Definition: Residents of Sumer, a region of the ancient land of Mesopotamia Context: Sumerians developed a culture whose members farmed and traded instead of hunting and gathering to make a living. Tigris River Definition: One of the rivers that borders what was the land of Mesopotamia Context: The Tigris River bordered Mesopotamia to the east. 1. Why did the ancient Sumerians look for new 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. ways to produce their food? How did growing crops and domesticating animals like sheep and goats allow the Sumerians to build cities and live in one place all year long? What does the word “Mesopotamia” mean? Between which rivers did Mesopotamia lie? Why did the soil of the Mesopotamian region of Sumer grow such good crops? What problem at first made farming difficult there and how did the Sumerians solve it? 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. In what other way did the Sumerians control the rivers? What important farming tool did the Sumerians invent? What else did the Mesopotamians invent? What do we call their system of writing? What tools did the Mesopotamians use for writing? What did the Sumerians put into writing before any other society? What was the name of the temple where Sumerians believed their gods lived? Of what material were the houses in Sumerian cities made? BELIEVED TO BE SETTLED CA. 3000 B.C. DIVIDED INTO CITY-STATES HELPED TO DEVELOP THE FIRST FORM OF ORGANIZED RELIGION CREATED ONE OF THE EARLIEST FORM OF WRITING ALWAYS IN CONSTANT CONFLICT OVER WATER RIGHTS AND LAND CREATED WALLS FOR PROTECTION, WITH MOATS ALONG THE OUTSIDE FARMS WERE LOCATED ALONG THE OUTSIDE OF THE CITY City-States in Mesopotamia SUMERIAN CULTURE SOCIETY 1. Three social classes a. Priests and royalty (kings) b. Wealthy merchants c. Ordinary workers [Slaves] –were not free citizens and thus not included in class system 2. Women a. Had more rights than in many later civilizations (could own property, join lower ranks of priesthood) b. But not allowed to attend schools (could not read or write) Left: Statue of Sumerian woman with hands clasped at chest, ca. 2600-2300 B.C. Right: Gypsum statue of man and woman at Inanna Temple at Nippur, circa 2600-2300 B.C. Wheel – 60 minutes in an hour, 60 seconds in a minute 12 month lunar calendar arch ramp Time DID YOU KNOW… Like many ancient civilizations, the Sumerians also had “a flood story.” That’s not surprising given their challenging environment sitting between two unpredictable rivers…in their view, such a cataclysmic event did, indeed, destroy their “entire world.” The Epic of Gilgamesh is, perhaps, the oldest written story on Earth. It comes to us from ancient Sumeria, and was originally written on 12 clay tablets in cuneiform script. It is about the adventures of the cruel King Gilgamesh of Uruk (ca. 2750 and 2500 BCE). In tablet XI we read about Per-napishtim, a man who built a boat Tablet XI and was saved from a great flood brought about by angry gods. On p. 77 in your textbook you can compare Per-napishtim’s story to Noah’s story in the biblical book of Genesis as well as a “flood story” from India. COOL WEBSITE to visit: GILGAMESH Great website to visit: http://gilgamesh.psnc.pl/ PP Design of T. Loessin; Akins H.S. City-States in Mesopotamia SUMERIAN CULTURE A. RELIGION 1. Belief in many gods - polytheism God of the clouds / air was Enlil – the most powerful god. (Nearly 3,000 others – with human qualities. They were viewed as often hostile and unpredictable – similar to the natural environment around them.) 2. Gilgamesh Epic, one of the earliest works of literature. Contains a “flood story” that predates the Hebrew Old Testament story of Noah by at least 2,000 years. PP Design of T. Loessin; Akins H.S. Ziggurats: pyramid site of the temple of the main gods. • Each city-state had their own gods and goddesses • Sun god – most important. Life after death was an extension of life. ZIGGURATS Large pyramid shaped structures Connected to heaven and earth Ziggurat: “center for learning and religion” BABYLONIAN ZIGGURAT How to Build a Ziggurat Monotheism: worshiping one god. • “Mono” – means one Polytheism: worshiping many gods. • “Poly” – means many CALLED CUNEIFORM (LATIN FOR WEDGE) WRITTEN ON CLAY TABLETS NEEDED FOR RELIGION, GOVERNMENT, AND TRADE LEARNED IN SCHOOL, BY MALES THAT LASTED FROM SUNRISE TO SUNSET Cuneiform is created by pressing a pointed stylus into a clay tablet. Make, sell or barter goods. Trade helped expansion. Development of money • Will evolve over time. RICH POOR government Farmers officials religious leaders traders craftsman Entertainment • No longer had to hunt and gather. • More time for fun times. Rich had more time than poor. Activities: • BOARD GAMES • INSTRUMENTS • BARE FISTED BOXING Activities geared toward young and used for socializing. An Eye for an Eye!!! Cute website http://www.phillipmartin.info/hammurabi/hammurabi_situation_index.htm PP Design of T. Loessin; Akins H.S. Babylonian Reign of Hammurabi a. Famous Code of Law • he wisely took all the laws of the region’s city-states and unified them into one code. This helped unify the region. • Engraved in stone, erected all over the empire. • Strict in nature – “the punishment fits the crime” / “eye for an eye” Such laws were adopted by neighbors – many similar found in Hebrew scriptures (Old Testament) • His act set an important precedent – idea that the government was responsible for what occurred in society. A total of 282 laws are etched on this 7 ft. 5 in. tall black basalt pillar (stele). The top portion, shown here, depicts Hammurabi with Shamash, the sun god. Shamash is presenting to Hammurabi a staff and ring, which symbolize the power to administer the law. Although Hammurabi's Code is not the first code of laws (the first records date four centuries earlier), it is the best preserved legal document reflecting the social structure of Babylon during Hammurabi's rule. This amazing find was discovered in 1901 and today is in the famous Louvre Museum in Paris, France. PP Design of T. Loessin; Hammurabi, the king of righteousness, On whom Shamash has conferred the Law, am I. When Marduk sent me to rule over men, to give the protection of right to the land, I did right and in righteousness brought about the well-being of the oppressed. Below are situations Hammurabi faced. You and your partner decide what you think to be a fair way to deal with the problem. Then together we’ll view what Hammurabi actually declared. We’ll find out if Marduk, the supreme god, will be pleased with your decisions? 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. What should be done to the carpenter who builds a house that falls and kills the owner? What should be done about a wife who ignores her duties and belittles her husband? What should be done when a "sister of god" (or nun) enters the wine shop for a drink? What should be done if a son is adopted and then the birth-parents want him back? What happens if a man is unable to pay his debts? What should happen to a boy who slaps his father? What happens to the wine seller who fails to arrest bad characters gathered at her shop? How is the truth determined when one man brings an accusation against another? http://www.phillipmartin.info/hammurabi/hammurabi_situation_index.htm Compiled and Illustrated by Phillip Martin copyright 1998 Two centuries after Hammurabi’s reign, the Babylonian Empire fell to nomadic raiders. New groups would rule over the Fertile Crescent in the future. However, the innovative ideas of the Sumerians and their descendants in the region would be adopted by the later peoples – including the Assyrians, the Persians, Phoenicians and the Hebrews (Jews).. But right now… let’s leave our discussion of these civilizations on the Tigris and Euphrates in Mesopotamia and move on to discuss our second Early River Valley Civilization – this one, on the Nile River. PP Design of T. Loessin; Akins H.S. Agriculture (Farming) Growth of Cities Division of Labor (Specialization) Trade Writing and Mathematics Persians Akkadians Babylonians Sumeria Hittites Mesopotamian Civilization Chaldeans Lydians Phoenicians Assyrians Iron Weapons Add to your map the location: • Hittites • Assyrians • Akkadians Chief god Assur Chariots used First Cavalry Spoke a Semitic Language related to modern Hebrew and Arabic When heaven above was not yet named, nor earth below pronounced by name, Apsu, the first one, their begetter and maker Tiamat, who bore them all, had mixed their waters together, but had not formed pastures, nor discovered reed-beds. When yet no gods were manifest, nor names pronounced, nor destinies decreed, then gods were born within them. Chief god: Marduk • Prayed for good harvest and success in business. King Hammurabi Hammurabi’s Code • Earliest code of law • Based on equal retaliation. 282 laws. Harsh punishment for crimes. Based on equal retaliation. • “ If a man bring an accusation against a man and charge him with a capital crime, but cannot prove it, the accuser, shall be put to death” • “If the slave of a freed man strike the body of a freed man, his ear shall be cut off” Laws were varied for the wealthy and powerful. • “ If a man bring an accusation against a man and charge him with a capital crime, but cannot prove it, the accuser, shall be put to death” • “If the slave of a freed man strike the body of a freed man, his ear shall be cut off” • If a man strike a free-born woman so that she lose her unborn child, he shall pay ten shekels for her loss. “If the woman die, his daughter shall be put to death. Skilled astronomers Hanging Gardens of Babylon King Nebuchadnezzar built them for his wife • One of the Ancient Wonders of the World http://www.crystalinks.com/seven.html Present day Iran Spoke an Indo-European Language Zoroastrianism • Belief in final judgment and training for it Major natural resource: lumber from cedar forests. Invented the art of glassblowing. Alphabet • Then adopted by Greeks. • Then adopted by Romans Please label Phoenicia on your map. First to use a money economy. • An economic system based in the use of money as a measure of value and a unit of account. *NOTES* THE MANY PEOPLE OF MESOPOTAMIA: 1. Sumerians (ancient Sumer’s city-states) (3000 B.C. - 1800 B.C.) 2. Babylonians (Babylonian Empire) ( 1800 B.C. - 1200 B.C. 3. Assyrians (Assyrian Empire) (1200 B.C. - 539 B.C.) 4. Persians (Persian Empire) (539 B.C. - 330 B.C.)