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Mesopotamia
/
Sumerians
World’s First
Civilization
Mesopotamia
• The “Land Between the Rivers”
Tigris
Euphrates
Indo-European Migrations: 4m2m BCE
The Middle East: “The Crossroads of Three
Mesopotamia
• Today, the country of Iraq lies in
the same location.
Sumerian
Civilization
• 1st know civilization
• 3200 BCE - true
cities began to
appear
• Organized into City
States
– Independent
cities with their
own government
• Sumerian Cities
• Organized around
Ziggurats (temples)
• Ruled by priests
• Various city states
fought each other
over resources
• Not unified
• Sumerian Cities
• Rectangular in shape,
surrounded by high,
wide walls
• City walls protected
them
• Large doors and
gates
• Wide avenues
 Ziggurat at Ur
Temple
Gov.
headquarters
• Religion
• Polytheistic
• Anthropomorphic
Gods (human
attributes)
Enki
• Worshiped in the
Ziggurat
Inanna
• Believed in Afterlife
• Religion
• Most important duty
was to keep the gods
happy
• Sacrificed animals
to the gods, gave
grain and wine
• Gods were cruel and
caused harm
• Economy
• “ Fertile
Crescent”
• Farming
• Trade
– Social Classes
• Upper class--Priests,
nobles, ruling family
• Middle class-merchants, scribes,
artisans, farmers
• Lower class — slaves
(conquered people)
• Writing
• Clay tablet from 2000
BCE tells the story of a
schoolboy in trouble
with his father
• Epic of Gilgamesh
– Sumerian poem
– Oldest work of
literature in the
world
– Story of the “Great
Flood”
– Evidence of culture
and beliefs
Cuneiform: “Wedge-Shaped”
Writing
Deciphering Cuneiform
Cuneiform Writing
• Job Specialization
• Science, medicine,
astronomy, farming
• Surplus of food allowed
for various jobs
SCRIBES:
• Very important role –
official “writer”
• Honored in society
• Worked in “Tablet
Houses”
• Lasting
Contributions
• Cuneiform
• Trading routes
• Irrigation
• Job specialization
• Schools
• Math
• Wheel
• Literature