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Sumerian Civilization
Sumerian Civilization: The Basics
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Where: Middle East, modern-day Iraq
When: around 3300 BC
What: One of the River Valley civilizations
Famous for: being the first civilization, Epic of
Gilgamesh, cuneiform, ziggurats, and
developing astronomy and mathematics
Mesopotamia
• Mesopotamia is part of a larger area called
the Fertile Crescent
• “Mesopotamia” literally means “land between
the rivers”
• Rivers: Tigris and Euphrates
• These rivers made the land very rich and good
for farming
Controlling the Water
• The Tigris and Euphrates flooded regularly, which
the people had to plan for and control for their
survival
• During the dry season, irrigation systems had to
be set up to bring water to the fields
• Officials organized projects to build ditches and
dikes for the water
• The Epic of Gilgamesh told of a worldwide flood,
so we know floods were part of their lives
Sumerian Cities
• Mesopotamia lacked natural resources like
timber (wood) or stone to build with, so buildings
were made of clay (bricks)
• Two great cities of Sumer were Ur and Uruk
• Trade with other areas helped make Sumerian
cities rich
– The rivers were used for trade
– Sumerians used wheeled vehicles to travel across land
– Some travelled as far away as Egypt and India!
City-States
• 12 separate city-states made up Sumer
• People were loyal to their city-state and fought
with other city-states for control of land and water
• War leaders offered protection; hereditary role
• Responsibilities of the Ruler of each City-State:
– Maintain city walls and irrigation systems
– Led armies in war
– Enforce laws
– Employed scribes to collect taxes and keep records
– Chief servant of the gods and led religious ceremonies
Social Hierarchy in Sumer
Rulers,
officials,
& high priests
Lesser priests, scribes,
merchants, & artisans
Peasant farmers &
slaves
Religion
• Polytheistic (worship many gods)
• Believed gods…
– controlled every aspect of life, especially the forces of
nature (like the floods)
– had families, ate, partied, etc. like ordinary people
– favored truth and justice
– Could cause violence and suffering
• Built ziggurats (large buildings)
– Dedicated them to gods and goddesses
– Used them to celebrate holy days
• Believed in a depressing afterlife
Writing
• Earliest known writing was invented by Sumerians
in 3200 BC
• Later called cuneiform, which means “wedge”
• Used pictographs to represent goods brought to the
store and then later individual sounds (so that
words and complex thoughts could be written)
• It was difficult to learn the writing, but it paid off…
through money, status, and education
Cuneiform Alphabet
Lasting Legacy
• Conquering civilizations that came into
Mesopotamia (Sumer replaced by 1900 BC) adopted
and expanded upon many Sumerian ideas
• Cuneiform spread throughout the Middle East
• Began telling the story The Epic of Gilgamesh
• Developed astronomy: studied constellations and
the movements of planets and stars
• Developed math:
– established a number system based on 6
– divided the hour into 60 minutes
– Divided the circle into 360 degrees