Download City States of Ancient Sumer

Journal Topic

Mathma Gandhi, a leader of India,
believed that political change and
justice should be gained without
violence. Do you think violence is ever
justified? Explain your answer and give
examples?
City States of Ancient
Sumer
Sections 3 and 4
Ancient Sumer
Geography of the fertile
crescent
Land between the
rivers
 Mesopotamia is
located between
the Tigris and
Euphrates river.
 The two rivers flow
from the highlands
of modern day
Turkey through Iraq
into the Persian
Gulf
Floods and Irrigation
 Rivers frequently
rose in terrifying
floods that washed
away topsoil and
destroyed mud
brick villages.
 Under the
leadership of
priests, villagers
built dikes to hold
back flood water.
Sumerian Civilization
Government and Society
The ruler was responsible for
maintaining the city walls and the
irrigation system.
The ruler was seen as the chief servant
of the gods and led ceremonies
designed to please them.
Social Hierarchy: ruling family, lesser
priests or scribes, and peasant
Role of Women



The role of women in Sumerian society
reflected mother goddess in farming
communities.
Supervised palace workshops and
ruled for the king when he was
absent.
Well to do women engaged in trade
and own property.
Sumerian Religion



Ancient Sumerians were
polytheistic.
Sumerians viewed Gods
almost like mortals in that
they were able to eat, drink,
and become married.
The goal of Sumerians were to
keep the Gods pleased
because the Gods favored
truth and justice, they were
also responsible for violence
and suffering.
………….Continued



Sumerians built a Ziggurat that paid
homage to the Gods.
People offered sacrifices such as
animals, grain, and wine.
Like the Egyptians, the Sumerians
believed in the afterlife. Conversely,
Sumerians saw the underworld as a
dim or murky place.
Advances in Learning




Sumerians used a form of communication
known as cuneiform.
It was used to record myth, prayers,
laws, treaties and business contracts.
Sumerian scholars made advances in
math by dividing the hour into 60
minutes and the circle into 360 degrees.
Examining the skies enabled Priests to
create accurate calendars to improve the
farming society.
Pause
(Do not copy)



“If the robber is not caught, then shall he who was
robbed claim under oath the amount of his loss;
then shall the community, and ... on whose ground
and territory and in whose domain it was
compensate him for the goods stolen.”
“If persons are stolen, then shall the community
and ... pay one mina of silver to their relatives.”
“If fire break out in a house, and some one who
comes to put it out cast his eye upon the property
of the owner of the house, and take the property of
the master of the house, he shall be thrown into
that self-same fire.”
Code of Hammurabi



Hammurabi controlled much of
Mesopotamia around 1790 B.C.
He is well known for his publication “
The Code of Hammurabi.” (282 laws
written on 12 tablets)
He was the first ruler to codify all of
the laws that would govern a state.
Criminal Law



In the past, victims were allowed to
take the law into their own hands.
“Vengeance is Mine”
Hammurabi’s code set out specific
punishments for specific offenses.
Civil Law



This branch of government dealt with the
invasion of rights such as business
contracts, property inheritances, marriage,
and even divorce.
“ If a woman so hated her husband that she
has declared, “You may not have me”.
Pause. How was civil law different from
criminal law?
Nebuchadnezzar
(Arrogant Dictator)



He was an “I” man
Nebuchadnezzar did
successfully revive the
Babylon empire
through the rebuilding
of cities, canals,
aqueducts, and
reservoirs.
He relied heavily on his
wealth and his
warriors.
The Roots of Judaism




Abraham is considered the founder of the
Israelite nation.
The Israelites were monotheistic believing in
one true God.
The Ten commandments are used to guide
the Jewish faith.
Prophets such as Isaiah and Jeremiah
warned that failure to obey God’s law would
lead people to disaster.
Review Questions (Please use your
notes and the text to answer the
following questions)
1. Between which two rivers was
Mesopotamia located?
 2. What were the responsibilities of the
rulers of each city state?
3.Who made up three classes in the
Sumerian social hierarchy?
 4. What was the role of women in Sumerian
society?
 5. In what three areas of learning did the
Sumerians excel?

…..Continued



6. What was the significance of the
Code of Hammurabi?
7. What did Nebuchadnezzar do to
help Mesopatamia floruish?
8. Which leader united the Hebrew
tribes into a single nation?