Transcript Chapter 4.1
Monday, Sept. 14 Objectives: 6.9 explain the development of city-states 1. Read Chapter 4. 1 and work on 4.1 Onsheet quietly. 2. Wait for further instructions. Chapter 4.1 THE SUMERIANS Sumerian city-states Ur = an important Sumerian city-state Sumer’s cities were surrounded by mudflats and patches of scorching desert. The harsh landscape made it hard to travel by land and communicate with other groups. The meant that each city was largely cut off from its neighbors. As a result, Sumerian cities became independent. The people of each city raised their own crops and made their own goods. As the cities grew, they gained political and economic control over the lands around them. By doing this, they formed city-states. Each city-state had its own government and was not part of any larger governing state. Historians think that each Sumerian city-state was protected by a large city wall. Ruins and artifacts have been found by archaeologists that support this theory. Because stone and wood were in short supply, the Sumerians used mud from the rivers as their main building material. They mixed mud with crushed reeds, formed bricks, and left them in the sun to dry. The gates of the wall stayed open during the day but were closed at night for protection. The ruler’s palace, a large temple, and other public buildings were located in the center of the city. Often, these city-states went to war with one another over resources and political borders. The fought to win glory or to gain more territory. During times of peace, city-states traded with each other and helped each other by forming alliances to protect their common interests. 1. FILL IN THE 4.1 ONESHEET WEB The First Civilizations in Mesopotamia Developed in 3000 B.C. The Two Rivers Mesopotamia earliest civilizations Developed in southern Iraq Mesopotamia means land between the rivers Developed between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers Fertile Crescent Mesopotamia was located in Fertile Crescent Extends from Mediterranean Sea to Persian Gulf Includes Turkey, Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, Israel, and Jordan Early Valley Dwellers People first settled about 7000 B.C. ◦ They were hunters and herders ◦ By 4000 B.C. farming villages develop Taming the Rivers Farmers used water from rivers to water crops Melting snow from mountains caused rivers to overflow Rivers were filled with silt Silt was good for the soil Tigris River Euphrates River Controlling Floods Farmers used dams and irrigation to control the flooding of the rivers Irrigation Irrigation is a system that supplies dry land with water through ditches, pipes, or streams Food Surplus Food surplus led to job specialization People could become artisans or skilled worker Made pottery, tools, and weapons Gave rise to cities, trade and civilizations Sumer’s Civilizations People were know as Sumerians They built the cities of Ur, Eridu,, and Uruk City-States Arise A city-state is a city with its own government and the surrounding farmland ◦ Protected by a large wall ◦ Mud was the main building material ◦ City-states fought and traded with each other Gods, Priests, and Kings Sumerians were polytheistic ◦ Polytheism is the belief in many gods ◦ Believed gods had power over nature and people Ziggurat Sumerians built ziggurats to honor its god Ziggurat means to rise high A holy place was at the very top ◦ It was the god’s home Social Groups King, priests, warriors, and government officials Merchants, farmers, fishers, and artisans slaves Farmers and Traders Most people in Sumer were farmers Wheat, barley, and dates were main crops Trade was major part of economy Trade routes linked Sumer to places as far away as India and Egypt Sumerian Merchants Traded wheat, barley, and tools for timber, minerals, and metals Sumerians valued a red stone called carnelian from India’s Indus River Valley Searched for a blue stone called lapis lazuli from Afghanistan Traders returned with iron and silver from Turkey Sumerian Contributions Writing-most important contribution Writing was called cuneiform Contained wedge shaped symbols Wrote on clay tablets Only wealthy learned to read and write Became scribes-a person who wrote documents often a record keeper Used for record keeping and tax collecting Technology and Mathematics Invented the Wheel Sailboat Bronze Sumerians were the first to make bronze with copper and tin Geometry Used geometry to measure the size of fields Place value Sumerians used a place value based on 60 360 degree circle Time 60 minute hour 60 second minute Calendar 12 month calendar plow Large Relief Sculptors Mosaics Cylinder Seals A cylinder seal is a cylinder engraved with a 'picture story', used in ancient times to roll an impression onto a two-dimensional surface, generally wet clay Uses of Cylinder Seals The seals were needed as signatures, confirmation of receipts, or to mark clay tablets and building blocks Ancient Mesopotamia Song By Mr. Nicky