Download First Civilizations and Empires

First Civilizations and
Empires
Vocabulary
•Irrigate
•Ziggurat
•Cuneiform
•Polytheism
•Ally
•Cultural Trait
•Empire
Fertile Crescent
• The fertile crescent is a large fertile region
in the Middle East from the Persian Gulf to
the Mediterranean Sea. Its also where
Mesopotamia is found.
Mesopotamia
• Mesopotamia (present day Iraq) is a large
flat plain with very fertile and rich soil
because of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers.
• Mesopotamia is also the place where the
Sumerian civilization begin and lived (3400
BCE)
Mesopotamia
• Though the soil was rich the climate of the
area made it very dry.
• The conditions caused the Sumerians to
create new technology by building irrigation
systems and a new way of farming which
involved them plowing the land and planting
seeds at one time.
Sumerian Civilization
With its new technology
advancement the
Sumerian civilization
grew into a city-state.
Each city contained its
own government, laws,
and main god. The 1st
Cites were Uruk, Ur,
Lagash, Nippur
Sumerian Trading
• With very little trees and metals Sumerians had
to trade with others for more resources.
• Sumerians usually use rivers and canals to
transport goods back and forward. They also use
more advance technology such as wheels for their
cars and sails for their boats.
Sumerian Social Class
• The Social Class were made up of 3 parts Upper,
Middle, and Lower. Upper: Wealthy, Priests, and
Rulers, Middle: Farmers and Skill workers, Lower:
Slaves and serfs
Sumerian Religion
Sumerians were
polytheistic and each
god controlled a
element of nature. They
also believe that the
gods lived like humans
but never died.
Ziggurats were where
Sumerians went for
worship and was
controlled by priests.
Sumerian Writing
Cuneiform was the Sumerian
writing system which used
triangle shape symbols.
It was originally used for
recording taxes, sales, and
agreements until 2000 BCE
when it was used for poetry
(Epic Gilgamesh)
Sumerian Government
• The first Sumerian government were ran by
priests until the conflict of resources which led to
war and also lead to priest appointing military
leaders. This leaders eventually became kings.
Sumerian Government
• The kings and priests of the Sumerian states
did work together especially for religious
ceremonies.
• Eventually the kings gained for full power
and created laws to keep that power.
Sumerian Government
• Ur-Nammu created the first set of written laws
around 2100 BCE. These laws consisted of
marriage, slavery, and the harming of others.
First Empire
• Due to many conflicts between the Sumerian citystates battles soon followed. The battles lead to
the creation of allies between city-states.
• Some of the battles that occurred were between
Umma and Lagash who fought from 2450 BCE to
2375 BCE
First Empire
• The many battles cause the Sumerian civilizations
to fall. This lead to the rise of a new society in
Northwest Mesopotamia called Akkadia. Akkadia
became the first Empire in Mesopotamia.
First Empire
• The Akkadian society was led by Sargon who
placed loyal Akkadians in high positions (Upper
class). Under Sargon the Akkadians eventually
conquered other Sumerian city-states and created
its empire.
First Empire
As Sargon conquered city-states he began to
introduce different cultural traits to these places.
During the Akkadian reign which last for 50 years
until Sargon’s death in 2279 BCE the culture of
Mesopotamia changed.
End of a Empire
• After Sargon’s death the Akkadian states begin to
fight and lead to separation yet again and remain
separate until 2100 BCE when Ur-Nammu took
control and attempt to build the Sumerian
civilization again.
• Ur-Nammu still couldn’t stop the many conflicts
which led to more wars and the final destruction
of the Sumerian civilization .