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Mesopotamia (Sumerians) 3500-1600 B.C. Fertile Crescent – The region’s curved shape and the richness of the land due to river flooding led to its name. Geography Desert climate Between Persian Gulf and Mediterranean Sea Two rivers irrigate landscape Unpredictable flooding and lack of rain made Tigris farming difficult and rewarding simultaneously. Euphrates Very few trees for building materials and limited natural resources Traded with people in the mountains and desert Flat land left village susceptible to attacks from neighbors Built walls with mud bricks Creation of City-States Functioned liked independent countries today Formed by the city and the surrounding land it controlled Priests and Rulers shared controls Farmers believed crops depended on blessings of the gods During times of war, fighters controlled city’s soldiers Military leaders passed power onto sons to create dynasties Sumerian Culture Religion – Polytheistic Believed in many different gods that controlled nature Their gods did many of the same things humans did Offered sacrifices of food, animals and wine Hoped for protection in this life, not afterlife Social Classes Kings, landholders, and priests made up highest level Merchants were in the middle Farmhands and common workers after that Slaves were the lowest class Prisoners of war Poor people to satisfy debt Women had more rights than later societies Could hold property Work farmers, merchants, and priests Technology and Science Invented wheel, sail, and plow First to use bronze Developed a number system Used geometry to build walls and irrigation systems Designed ramps, columns and pyramid shaped designs System of writing of cuneiform First Empire Builders Sargon of Akkad Around 2350 B.C., Sargon from Akkad defeats Sumer Creates first empire—under control of one leader His dynasty lasts about 200 years Babylonian Empire Amorites, nomadic warriors, take control around 2000 B.C. Make Babylon, on Euphrates River, the capital Babylonian Empire at peak during Hammurabi’s rule 1792–1750 B.C. Hammurabi’s Code Hammurabi creates a code of laws for the Babylonian Empire 282 laws on all aspects of life; Engraved in stone and made public Set different punishments depending on social class, gender Goal is for government to take responsibility for order, justice