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8/31 Ch. 2.1 Mesopotamia & Sumer 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? 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? 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! 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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? 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.