Download Chapter 3 Mesopotamia

Sponge (super important terms!!)
In your Purple books, in the Glossary. Write the
following definitions in your notebooks 10/9
Mesopotamia (You have 15 minutes)
-Mesopotamia
-Sumer
-levee
-culture
-civilization
-Social Structure
-technology
-City-States
-irrigation system
-ziggurat
-cuneiform
-aqueducts
-scribes
9-18 Problem Solvers
• In your notebooks (unless I have them, in that
case get out a piece of paper) 
• Tell me 2 problems that the early ancient
Sumerians faced.
• Now explain to me how they solved these
problems……..
• When you are finished please number your
paper 1-5
Progression Chart
Paleolithic
Hunters and
Gatherers
Neolithic
-Settled in one place.
Domesticated
animals.
-Became farmersAgriculture.
-Began to trade
-Specializations in
jobs
Civilizations
A culture with
developed art,
science,
government
and social
structures.
Chapter 3
Mesopotamia
Section I: Geography of the Fertile Crescent
Section II: The Rise of Sumer
Section Focus
• First major civilization was located
on Tigris & Euphrates Rivers
• Area was called Mesopotamia
(which means the land between the rivers)
– Its also called the “Fertile Crescent”
-- !!!People moved here because the soil
was good for growing crops!!!!
• Located in modern day Iraq
The Rise of the Sumerian City States
• The Neolithic people began as small farming
villages who overtime turned in to large cities.
• Sumer, located in southern Mesopotamia is where
the first REAL cities began.
- People moved into cities because
- They needed to share food and farming
responsibilities
- Because the water supply needed to be shared
- For protection from other attacking villages
Farming and Cities
• Used canals and levees to
prevent floods and irrigate
soil.
• Fewer people needed to farm
because of food surplus
(surplus means extra).
• Jobs developed because of
surplus food. People
specialized in jobs such as
religious leaders, government
officials and crafters.
Farming and Cities
Inventions!!!
SUPER Technology!
• The Sumerians
invented the plow a
technology that made it
super helpful when
farming!
We still use it today!!!
Farming and Cities
Early settlements in Mesopotamia were located
near rivers. Water was not controlled, and
flooding was a major problem.
Later, people built canals to
protect houses from flooding
and move water to their
fields.
With irrigation, the people of Mesopotamia
were able to grow more food.
An Advanced Society
• First settled area in
Mesopotamia was Sumer:
–
–
–
–
Government & Laws
Religion
Economics
Culture
• Completely dependent on
rivers and land.
• Began city-states to protect
land and people.
An Advanced Society
• City-states are independent cities with their own
government and land.
An Advanced Society
Mesopotamian City-States
Rise of the Empire
• Over time different leaders
conquered region.
• First empire was created
when Sargon united areas
of Akkad & Sumer.
• After Sargon died people
fought for power and control.
Sargon’s Empire
Religion & Society
• People looked for leaders to
stop the fighting.
• Believed priests talked to gods
which gave them a lot of power.
• Priests became kings of the
city-states and took control
of government.
• Power became hereditary
(passed from parent to child.)
Religion & Society
• Religion is the easiest way to
control people.
• Mesopotamia had over
3000 gods (polytheistic.)
• Gods were the forces of nature
(wind, rain, floods, etc.)
• Temples called Ziggurats were
built to honor gods.
The Rise of a Civilization
Social Structure
- A social structure includes different jobs and social
levels.
Principal
Here’s an
example, please
draw it in your
paper.
Assistant Principal
Teacher
Student
Sumerian Social Order
• Priests established a social hierarchy,
or ranking system, for the people:
–
–
–
–
–
Kings
Priests
Craftspeople / Traders
Farmers
Slaves
• Men outranked women in society,
but all family members followed
the priests and kings.