Download Slide 1

Early River Civilizations
Mesopotamia and the Sumerians
World History
Pullen
Mesopotamia- The land between the
rivers
 The Tigris – Euphrates Rivers form the Fertile
Crescent
Silt
Good weather
Flood unpredictably
 The Zagros and Taurus Mountains, Syrian
Desert
Natural barriers to keep out intruders
modern day Iraq, parts of Turkey, and parts of Syria
Mesopotamia- Map
Mesopotamia: Sumer
Sumer included the cities of Ur and Kish
The city state of Sumer grew as more
people began to settle in the fertile areas.
Population grew along the rivers.
The growth of the population encouraged
new technology:
Irrigation
Development of artificial lakes and ponds
Why?!?
Irrigation
Irrigation is the method of getting water to
specific areas of farmland through
drainage pipes or ditches.
An irrigated field:
Early Governments
 No boundaries. Each city is independent.
 Early government ruled by priests
 leaders in charge of irrigation systems of canals
as well as work crews, appointed inspectors,
and settled arguments.
 Surplus of grain kept in temples.
 Collection of taxes - grain, animals, farm
products.
 Prayed, made sacrifices to please the gods.
 Spent lives serving the gods.
Record Keeping
Record keeping is needed when
government, religion, and economy
become more complex.
Scribes: professional record keepers
Cuneiform: Sumerian writing with a
wedged stick and clay tablet
Sumerian Contributions: The first kings
 Eventually military leaders became kings. Why?
 Conflict was over land boundaries and use of
water.
 Defended the cities against invaders
 Managed irrigation works, surplus grain, chief
judge in all arguments.
 Kingship came down from heaven.
 Dynasty: A series of rulers from the same family
Sumerian Contributions: Religion
Polytheism: Many gods
controlled everything
immortal and all powerful.
Gods would protect or destroy
Four (4) important Gods:
An: Father of all gods, God of the sky
Enlil: God of the air. Gave kings their
power
Enki: God of the water. Ruled city of Eridu
Ninhursag: Mother goddess
Nonna: Moon God. Ruled Ur
Others: sun God goddess of love and war
Each city had its own god. Why?
People of Sumeria
 Social Classes (3)
 Highest class included: King, government officials, priests,
wealthy merchants and landowners
 Middle class included: Farmers, fishermen, artisans
 Lowest class included: slaves, prisoners, people who did not
own land and children
 Women had some freedom of job choice and could
hold property
 Why do most civilizations (even our own) have social
classes?
Mesopotamia: Division of Labor and
Economy
Everyone had a job in Sumeria
Examples: bricklayers, canal builders, butchers,
artists
Barter!
Barter is the exchange of surplus food items for
materials that are needed.
Why don’t we use barter today?
Hammurabi
 Created a written law code
 Unified the empire
 282 specific laws
Family relations, business conduct, and crimes
Different punishments for rich and poor
 Government has a responsibility to organize
society
Why was it important that the law code be written
down?