Download Ancient Civilizations

Ancient Civilizations
Mesopotamia
The Start of Mesopotamia
• Early humans traveled to find food
– When food became scarce, they moved
• As they moved they followed the
coasts/rivers, to be close to water
• Soon they traveled through the area
of the Middle East (5000 BCE)
– Found a very fertile area known as the
“Fertile Crescent”
– Present day Iraq
• Area was fertile due to 2 major rivers
that emptied into the Persian Gulf
Geography of Mesopotamia
Characteristics of Fertile Crescent
• Two major rivers
– Euphrates to the West
– Tigris to the East
• Area between named Mesopotamia
(c. 3100-529 BCE)
– Comes from Greek term meaning
“between the rivers”
• Many small cities form close to the
Persian Gulf
– They later spread further away due to
growing populations
Importance of Geography
• One of the earliest known cities-states:
Sumer (2900 BCE)
– City-states- an area that was ruled like
separate states
– Early example of an advanced civilization
– Strong government, laws, economy
• Rivers provided only real water to Sumer
– Positives
• Fertile land allowed crops to grow
• Deposited silt- rich soil from bottom of riverbeds
– Negatives
• Rivers flooded unpredictably; thousands died
• Area of Sumer was small (size of Massachusetts)
• Area lacked other vital natural resources
Discussion
• What technology did the Sumerians
utilize that would help lessen the
negative consequences discussed
previously?
Importance of Geography
• Problem Solving at Its Best
– People of Sumer utilized new
technologies
• Dug irrigation canals to control water
– Also spread the amount of farmable land
• Built walls to protect the cities from
invaders
• Traded for resources needed w/ other
cities
– Traded grain and cloth for wood, metal,
and tools
River Silt and Irrigation Canals
River silt left behind
after a flood
Irrigation canal from
the rivers
• All cities had their own governments
and rulers
Sumerian Cities
– Ur- the most powerful Sumerian city
– Sophisticated city w/ rigid social
classes
– Buildings made of clay bricks
• Regular houses were boxlike w/ no
windows
• Rich houses were two levels w/
courtyard
Examples of Ur Housing
Economy of Sumerian Cities
• Economy based of
Agriculture
– Grain would be traded
for other goods
• Traded for tools, metals,
and wood
• Marketplace- most
important area
– Used for trading of
goods
– Called a bazaar or
open air market
• Barter –A system of
trade in which one
good is traded for
another
• Sumerian Religion
Sumerian Religion
– Polytheism- belief in
multiple gods
• Ziggurat- main religious
building (temple)
– Usually protected by wall
– Served many purposes
• Store grain, ceremonies,
sacrifices
• Priests held high power
in society
– Initially had all power until
more wars broke out and
military leaders took over
Sumerian Politics/Culture
• Led to dynasties
– A succession of rulers from the same
family.
• Society had rigid social classes
• Little Social mobility
–
–
–
–
Priests and Kings – upper class
Merchants/ Artisans – upper middle class
Farmers/ Laborers – lower middle class
Slaves- (usually POWs, not race based)
• Women held some rights in society
• Able to own land, enter low priesthood
• Could not write; suggests no education
Sumerian Science & Tech
• Sumerians known for 4 major
inventions
– The wheel
– The sail
• Both aid in travel and trade; make
them faster
– The plow
– The Harness
• Created calendars
• Counting/ number system from
0 – 60
• First to use Bronze- the Bronze
Age
• Created cuneiform
– Writing system of pressing into clay
– Used pictographs – picture=words
– Stylus- small tool for writing
• Ziggurat
Early Mesopotamian Conquerors
• Religious leaders held power first but wars broke
out
• With more wars, military leaders come to power
• Eventually leaders start taking over nearby
villages
– Leads to the beginning of empires and empire building
• Empire-many areas under the rule of one
leader
• First Empire builder- Sargon of Akkad
• Takes power over Sumer
– Came from the city of Akkad
– Adopted many of the Sumerian
practices and beliefs
• Sargon dynasty unifies Sumer from
2340 – 2125 BCE
– Becomes the first time Sumer was unified
• Expands empire from north of Sumer to Persian Gulf
Discussion
• Why did Sargon adopt much of the
Sumerian culture?
New Group & Leader Come to Power
• Empire of Sargon begins to weaken
• Amorites take power of Sumer around
2000 BCE; later known as Babylonians
– Make Babylon their capital, moved it from Ur
– Still kept practices of Sumer
• Babylonian Empire reaches its height
under Hammurabi (1790-1750 BCE)
• Best known for creating a code of law for
all people
– Hammurabi’s Code; based off earlier codes
– First Written Law Code; posted throughout cities.
• Hammurabi’s Code based on revenge
– Eye for an eye, tooth for tooth
• Rules applied differently to rich and poor
• Religion changed under HammurabiMarduk main god