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8/31 Ch. 2.1
Mesopotamia & Sumer
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Fertile Crescent
Mesopotamia
ziggurat
city-state
polytheism
dynasty
cuneiform
Sargon
Hammurabi, etc.
How did geography promote civilization in
Mesopotamia?
What features defined the civilization of Sumer?
What were Sumer’s main cultural
achievements?
What events led to later empires in
Mesopotamia?
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Here is where
the world’s
first (known)
civilization
developed.
Why do you
think the
purple area is
called the
Fertile
Crescent?
Why was it a
good area for a
civilization to
thrive, do you
think?
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Between the Tigris and Euphrates
Rivers, is a fertile region with some
of the richest soils in the world.
This area has been known for
centuries as the Mesopotamia, or
“Between the Rivers”
Flooding helped keep the land wet
and fertile, but it was often
unpredictable. So, the people there
learned to create basins to act as
reservoirs, and canals to move the
water, and dikes to control
flooding.
As mentioned before, this level of
organization would have required a
rudimentary government.
Eventually, a civilization arose:
Sumer!
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Known as the Sumerians, these people started settling in
the area as early as 5500 BCE, but they started building
cities ~3000 BCE.
We have found buildings made of mud bricks. Most cities
had a central temple, known as a ziggurat, and the city was
surrounded by walls. Fields were outside the walls
surrounding the city.
As these cities arose, they formed their own independent
governments and somewhat unique cultures as city-states,
much like ancient Greece. They often fought each other as
well.
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They shared a common religion however,
and believed in polytheism, or multiple
gods. Each city often had a patron god that
looked out especially for them. These gods
were very human as well, acting and looking
liked humans, yet they had immense power.
Thus, if it suited them, they might let a
famine occur, or bring a rich harvest.
Thus, the Sumerians put a lot of effort into
keeping the gods happy, by building
ziggurats, offerings, etc. Originally priests
held a high role in these city-states, but as
wars occurred, gradually the warrior kings
served as both political and religious
leaders. Eventually, some of these kings
established dynasties, or series of rulers
from the same family.
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Hammurabi’s Code:
◦ An Amorite, who conquered the Sumerian citystates and created his own empire.
◦ He is most known for his legal codes, which outline
crimes and punishments.
◦ You’ll look at some of them, then write a persuasive
essay about whether you think they were
appropriate, too harsh, etc.
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Finish Ch. 2.1 “Mesopotamia & Sumer”, and
then start Ch. 2.2 , and stop after reading
about the Hittites (pp 35-40); online at
mrwrightmerit.weebly.com.
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As far as we know, the Sumerians are responsible for the
first writing system. It was called cuneiform, and they
wrote it with sharp tools called styluses to make wedge
shaped images
Though originally used for business records, etc.,
eventually their writing included many other things, like
laws, literature, poems, songs, etc. This included The Epic
of Gilgamesh, the most famous of their works
Cuneiform Activity.
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Becoming a scribe, or someone who
learned to read and write, was a new
and important job (like social media
marketing!). It allowed for social
mobility, but required years of
schooling.
They also devised a math system
based on the number 60. This is still
used for time, and also degrees (360
of them!)
They used their skills to invent the
wheel, use bronze, and many other
advances, even sewers. They also
performed basic surgery.
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The Sumerians had a vibrant culture,
as evidenced by the many artifacts
that they left behind.
They were also great architects, as the
many arches, ramps, and columns on
their buildings show.
They even created the first copy
machine/ stamps! They had stone
cylinders with messages on them (like
“Owned by Laygon”), which they could
roll and record over and over in new
clay.
Sumer also got very good at trade,
since their land lacked many natural
materials, they learned to trade for
what they wanted. With trade came an
evolved social structure.
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Like the ancient Greeks, the
Sumerian city-states liked to
battle each other. Eventually,
this allowed others to
overcome and rule them.
Around 2330 BCE, Sargon I of
Akkad (a city somewhere to
the north of Sumer) led a
mighty army and conquered
all of Sumer.
Then, he swept north, and
conquered most of
Mesopotamia to the
Mediterranean.
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Sargon had just formed the world’s first empire. He
and the Akkadians adopted Sumer culture as well;
their writing worked well, and he didn’t change too
many things, which kept most of his new people
happy.
Sadly, all good things must come to an end. After
roughly 200 years, his empire was torn apart by
warring factions. However, before that, he took
Sumerian culture, cuneiform, etc., all over
Mesopotamia.
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The Amorites however arose as the leaders
from the chaos. They formed the city of
Babylon, near the Euphrates, and in 1792 BCE,
their king, Hammurabi, led them on a conquest
to again unite Mesopotamia.
His new realm became known as the Babylonian
Empire. Not only was he a brilliant military
commander, but he was a great administrator.
He improved the tax collection system,
increased trade quite a bit, and allowed the
Sumerian priests to retain their influence, while
also allowing the Sumerian language and
cuneiform to continue its impressive run.
Of course, he is most famous for his code of
282 laws, which made it clear what was
acceptable and what wasn’t. Code.
Sadly, after his death, the empire never could
find a leader of his abilities, and after just 200
years, they were defeated by another people:
the Hittites.
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As time passed, other tribes
migrated to Mesopotamia as well,
drawn by the tales of wealth and
plenty.
The Indo-Europeans, a diverse
group of people who spoke
similar languages, made their way
to the Fertile Crescent ~2000 BCE.
Their languages were the basis for
many of our modern languages
today.
They also used an advanced
chariot, which allowed them to
have 3 instead of 2 men on it.
This gave them a distinct
advantage, and they soon carved
an empire for themselves, looting
even Babylon (~1595 BCE) in the
process.
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Just like the Akkadians and Babylonians, the
Hittites blended their culture with that of those
around them. They too adopted cuneiform to
write their own language, and even created laws
similar to Hammurabi’s.
However, the one big thing they did all by
themselves was figure out how to use iron,
though they used it mostly for decorations, not
tools or weapons.
And like those before, the Hittites did ok for
several centuries, until around 1200 BCE, they
were defeated by some mysterious people called
the Sea People.
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Read the rest of Ch. 2.1 “Fertile Crescent
Empires”, pp 39-44. Answer the following
questions in your notes (be ready to show me
come next class): (see website)
◦ Who was Nebuchadnezzar II? What achievements is
he responsible for?
◦ How did the Assyrians gain dominance in
Mesopotamia? Is this an effective strategy? Why /
why not?
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Make sure to finish your Hammurabi Code
Assignment!
◦ Pick any 3 of these laws (or any 3 of Hammurabi's
Codes; see the following link for for the full list of
laws: Hammurabi's Codes)
◦ Write a persuasive essay that discusses Hammurabi's
codes, focusing on and describing the 3 codes you
chose, and whether you think they were appropriate, as
well as whether they are appropriate now. Explain Why
or why not. See Essay Guidelines for more info on writing
a good essay.
◦ Make sure to include an introductory paragraph, at least
3 supporting paragraphs, and a conclusion paragraph.