Download NAME: Date: World History Number:______ Birth of Civilization

NAME:________________________
Date:_______________
World History Number:______
Birth of Civilization: Mesopotamia and Babylon (1.3, 2.1)
OBJECTIVES:
1. We will be able to analyze key parts of civilization.
2. We will be able to describe the early civilizations of Mesopotamia, Egypt, and what
led to their growth.
3. We will be able to create an argument for or against the Hammurabi Code.
4. We will be able to identify how to determine a reliable source.
Early civilization emerged in the _______________
 Mesopotamia
o The region between the _____________ and the
_______________ is known as _______________________.
 Sumer
o Sumer was neither a city nor a country. Rather, it was a collection of separate cities with a common
way of life. They shared a common culture. Sumer’s cities function as city-states. (ex. Ur)
o Historians believe that Sumerians built the world’s first __________________.
o One of the first villages to emerge was _____________. The villagers were called Sumerians
What defines the term “Civilization?” A society with cities, a central government, job specialization, and social classes
 _________ Traits that are Essential for a Civilization
o 1. ________________________
 Not Just Population growth, but center of trade emergesFarmers, Merchants, Traders bring goods
o 2. ________________________ became skilled in one particular job.
 Farmers produce a surplus of crops and able to trade their extra goods for a different good or service
o 3. ____________________________
 Enables people to make records of data. Merchants needed accounts of debts and payments.
 The Sumerians created Cuneiform which is a system of writing with wedge-shaped symbols. (Around
3,000 B.C.)
 Cuneiform Tablets (see image on left)
 Imprints of signs, called cuneiform, were made by pressing a wedge- shaped stylus into wet clay.
o 4. __________________________
 The Sumerians were skilled in science & technology.
 Ex. Ex. Use of Arches, Columns, and ramps
 Use of bronze (mixture of copper & tin) Bronze Age” 3000 BCbetter military weapons
 5. __________________________
 Having an organizational system to run a city.
 Education and Government are examples of complex institutions.
Fertile Crescent
Disadvantages
Water problemsunpredictability of floods
Sumerian
Solutions
NAME:________________________
Date:_______________
World History Number:______
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Polytheism-
_________________________________________.
o Gods were believed to be similar but they were_____________________& ____________________________.
o Ziggurat-a tiered, pyramid-shaped structure that formed part of a Sumerian temple.
 Anu- “God of Heaven”
 Enlil- “God of Clouds & Air”
 Ea- “God of Water & Floods.
o Afterlife: Sumerians believed that their souls went to
“The Land of No Return” a gloomy place between the
earth’s crust & the ancient sea.
Who ruled Sumer?
o Priest & Kings
o Priests had power because they could please the gods,
controlled irrigation, and collected taxes.
o Sumerians began by choosing a strong warrior to lead
them into battle. These leaders eventually became kings.
Kings eventually came from a dynasty (A series of rulers
from a single family).
Sumer’s Downfall
o Sumer city-states fought each other fork 1k years
(_______________________+
 Fighting left open to attack by nomads
 Ur was in ruins by 2000 BC
Turning Point In History: “______________________________”
o 2,000 B.C. warriors -_______-invaded Mesopotamia
o Capital city- ___________________-life too complex and hectic
Hammurabi (1792-1750 B.C.) establishes a code
o Hammurabi established a collection of laws that became known as
“Hammurabi’s Code”—First laws written down
 Purpose of Hammurabi’s Code—Solve disputes
 There are 282 specific laws.
 88 Laws deal with marriage, family, property.
 3 Fundamental Principles:
 1. ___________________________ to punish crimes.
(Eye for an Eye)
 2. ___________________________ (Double
Standards existed between social classes).
 3. ___________________________ had a
responsibility for what occurred in society.
NAME:________________________
Date:_______________
World History Number:______