Download lesson - mesopotamia

River Valley Civilizations
What are some good reasons to live here?
River Valleys
• Areas between rivers and other water
sources had rich, fertile soil.
– These areas could support the farming and
survival needs for many people.
• Over time these areas became home to
several settlements under the same
culture.
– Highly organized and large societies evolved.
Mesopotamia
Mesopotamia
3500 B.C. to 1700 B.C.
Location: Between the
Tigris and Euphrates
Rivers in present day
Iraq. “The land between the
rivers.” – “Fertile Crescent”
Agriculture: Used
irrigation from river
floods to grow crops.
This led to other professions
such as potters, weavers,
metal workers, warriors, and
priests. (Artisans – workers
with a special skill)
Mesopotamia
• The first creators of
Mesopotamian
civilization were the
Sumerians.
• Government:
– Different areas were made
of city-states, which had to
take care of themselves.
– Ruled by theocracies,
which are gov’s that are
ruled by priests & religion.
– When kings became rulers
they were still considered
agents of the gods.
Sumerian priests and priestesses performed religious
ceremonies to please the gods in order to protect the
cities and bless the crops.
Religion:
- The people looked to
religious beliefs to answer
their questions about life.
Mesopotamia
Ziggurat
- They had around 3,000
gods/goddesses. This
made them polytheistic
(believing in many gods).
- Temples were built on top
of Ziggurats, the large
buildings that were the
center of each city.
-Epic of Gilgamesh
What might be some of the
benefits and drawbacks to
have a theocratic form of
government?
Mesopotamia
Economy:
- Relied mostly on farming.
- Trade, pottery, textiles
(fabrics), and metalwork
were also very important.
- Wheels for carts made
transportation much easier.
- Created a form of writing
called cuneiform for record
keeping and sharing
knowledge.
- Used a tool to make
wedge-shapes in clay,
then the clay was left out
to dry.
Mesopotamia
Society:
- Three major social groups.
1.Nobles – priests & royalty
2.Commoners
3.Slaves – used for projects
like building, weaving,
and farming.
Nobility
Commoners
Farmers, Merchants, Artisans
Do you think this type of social structure was
beneficial to the success of the civilization?
Slaves
Conquered or Convicted
Women in Mesopotamia
• Most women stayed at
home and cooked,
cleaned, raised the
children, and crushed the
grain.
• Noble women could
– Go to the market without a
male escort and buy goods
– Complete legal matters in
their husband’s absence
– Could own property
– Some could engage in
business and obtain a
divorce.
Women praying;
University of Chicago
Mesopotamia
Contributions:
– Architecture: stone and mud
buildings such as the Ziggurat
– Invented the wheel
– Invented the sailboat
– Irrigation
– Copper & Bronze weapons
– Created a number system based
on 60
– Invented cuneiform writing for
records and cultural stories
– Developed a legal system called
the Code of Hammurabi
Which Mesopotamian
contribution is the
most important? Be
prepared to defend
you answer.
Code of Hammurabi
• First set of laws ever
recorded in human history!
• Covers almost all decisions
and actions of daily life.
• Goal: to ensure justice and
protect the weak.
• Treated nobles and
commoners differently.
• Established an “eye for and
eye” legal system.
Why is it important for a
Meaning, a punishment
society to have
equal to the crime.
established and defined
laws and rules?
Check for Mastery
1. Where was Mesopotamia located?
2. How did the rivers increase soil fertility?
3. The Mesopotamian religion, which identified
nearly 3,000 gods/goddesses, can be described as
______________?
4. What was their type of government?
5. Who had great political power in Sumeria?
6. The Sumerians were the first to discover and use
what type of metal?