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Mesopotamia Fertile Crescent Empires Geography Promotes Civilization • Fertile Crescent = b/w Mediterranean Sea & Persian Gulf – 2 Rivers Tigris & Euphrates • Rich soil between these 2 rivers • Also called Mesopotamia = “between the rivers” Greek – Farming as early as 5500 B.C. • Little rainfall, depended on water level of rivers • Sudden flooding could wipe out crops • People learned to control water (how?) Sumer • Cities developed around 3000B.C. – Cities built out of mud bricks w/ large temple in town center • Ziggurat = pyramid shaped structure in the center of the temple (closest to the gods) – City-states = over time each city & the land it controlled became a political unit with its own govt. – Polytheism = belief in many gods – Dynasty = a series of rulers from one family Sumerian Culture • Writing – development of first writing process – Cuneiform sharp tools called stylus to make marks in clay • Used to keep business records 1st • Then literature (ex. The Epic of Gilgamesh) – Math & Science developments • Number system based on 60 (link to today) • Invented the wheel vehicles/plowing Empires of Mesopotamia • Sargon’s Empire – north of Sumer live the Akkadians – Created 1st permanent army Pg. 34 • Conquered Sumer & northern Mesopotamia • Created 1st EMPIRE = a land that includes different kingdoms and people under one rule – Adopted much of Sumerian culture – Fell to invading tribes • Years of conflict over who would control Mesopotamia Empires of Mesopotamia (cont.) • The Babylonian Empire – Tribe called the Amorites invade & settle in Babylon – 1792 B.C. Hammurabi becomes king • Skilled warrior united all Mesopotamia under one rule • Able administrator building projects, taxes, increased trade • Continued Sumerian culture religion, language, writing – Hammurabi’s Code – 1st written law code Pg. 36