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Aim: Why did the first civilization develop in Mesopotamia? • How did Mesopotamia get its name? • What does this say about Mesopotamia? • Why did people choose to live there? Mesopotamia • “Land between the rivers” EARLY CIVILIZATIONS 1 1 = Mesopotamia Label the following geographical features on your map: 1. Fertile Crescent 2. Tigris and Euphrates Rivers 3. Mediterranean Sea Geographic Features • Rivers • Open plains • Arid Present Day Country Iraq Importance of location by a river • Fertile land for farming • Irrigation systems • Trade and communication What does a society need to have in order to be called a “civilization”? 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. Cities Government Organized religion Job specialization Social classes Arts and architecture Public works Writing •Ur, Babylon, Kish, Erech 1. Cities 2. Government •Hammurabi’s Code 3. Organized religion •Ziggurats: pyramid like temples 3. Organized religion •Polytheism: belief in many gods 4. Job Specialization •Artisan: Craftsman (weaver, carpenter) 5. Social Classes Priests/Nobles Warriors Merchants Peasant farmers Slaves 6. Art and Architecture •Painting •Step Pyramids Standard of Ur Economic Structure • Irrigation led to: • Trade and commerce • Trade led to: • Barter system (no money used) 7. Public Works •Irrigation Systems •Defense Walls 8. Writing •Cuneiform: wedge shaped writing • Reason for writing system • Keep track of buying and selling • Scribes kept accurate records of business transactions by writing on clay tablets Advances in learning and technology Number system based on 60 http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/ player/kids/people-places-kids/iraqmesopotamia-kids.html “Sumerian City Planning” • What do city planners have to take into account when mapping out a city? • How does the geography shape the actions of city planners? Hanging Gardens of Babylon According to accounts, the gardens were built to cheer up King Nebuchadnezzar's homesick wife, Amyitis. Amyitis, daughter of the king of the Medes, was married to Nebuchadnezzar to create an alliance between the nations. The land she came from, though, was green, rugged and mountainous, and she found the flat, sun-baked terrain of Mesopotamia depressing. The king decided to recreate her homeland by building an artificial mountain with rooftop gardens. Epic of Gilgamesh • Tells the story of a great flood • How did geography shape life during this time? Teaches story that only gods are immortal. Humans have to deal with the pain of death. • Why was Mesopotamia called the “Cradle of Civilization”? Summary • Why were the people of Mesopotamia able to build a great civilization? • At what point does a civilization become an empire? • • • • • • • • Key Vocabulary City-states Polytheistic - believed in many gods Ziggurats – pyramid like temples Ruler – enforced law, collected taxes, maintained irrigation systems Cuneiform – wedge shaped writing Social structure Trade Theocracy – government based on divine authority