Download Early Civilizations summarized

MESOPOTAMIAN CIVILIZATIONS
SUMER
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Settled in Fertile Crescent—river valleys of Tigris and Euphrates Rivers
Learned to build channels and control rivers from flooding and for irrigation
Governments were “city-states” because of geography
Developed buildings (even waterproofing the bricks)
Built ziggurats—temples to their gods
Developed a system of writing known as cuneiform
Learned other skills so that specialization was possible
People were divided into social classes—kings/priests/government officials, artisans/merchants/farmers, enslaved
people
Invented the wheel
Invented the plow
Invented the sailboat
Developed the 60 minute hour, 60 second minute and the 12 month calendar
AKKADIANS
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Conquered all of Mesopotamia (2340 B.C.)
Leader—Sargon
Developed the world’s first empire
BABYLON—HAMMURABI
Conquered Akkadians
Developed code of laws
Created the Babylonian Empire
ASSYRIANS—Nineveh
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developed civilization in the northern section of Mesopotamia near the Tigris River
Developed powerful army to protect their land—their army had foot soldiers, soldiers on horseback and chariots
Learned (from the Hittites) how to strengthen iron to make better weapons
Assyrians were ferocious, vicious warriors and rulers—empire grew from Persian Gulf to Nile River
To rule large empire they divided the land into provinces (governors)
Continued to develop their culture with large temples and palaces, libraries, literature, art and sculptures
Fell to the Chaldeans
CHALDEANS—Babylon
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Led by Nebuchadnezzar
Descendants of Hammurabi (1000 yrs. Earlier)
Rebuilt Babylon to the world’s largest and richest city
City had wall wide enough for two chariot to pass (size of our roads)
Guarded the empire with watch towers and stations of soldiers (lived there)
Built hanging gardens-terraced gardens (had irrigation system)
B/C of location of city on trade route (between Persian Gulf and Mediterranean), city became rich from trade
Based on astronomers ‘ study, the developed a 7 day week and daily time keepers (sundial)