Download The First Civilization!

The First Civilization!
Mesopotamia
Sumer
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The people are called the Sumerians,
the land is called Sumer.
Religion
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Polytheists- belief in
multiple gods.
Gods acted like
humans
Priests held high
status and at first
governed citystates.
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Please gods to get
good crops.
At heart of the
temples a pyramid
shaped structure
called a Ziggurat.
Enter the War Chiefs!
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War Chiefs became important to
fight battles and wage wars.
War chiefs gained power and formed
dynasties.
Dynasties: a series of rulers from
one family.
They also performed ceremonies to
please gods and become
representatives to them.
Sumerian Culture
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Cuneiform: the first known writing system
to keep business records, law, grammar,
literature. Epic of Gilgamesh (story of a
king).
Math/Science: math system based on 60,
geometry (building, irrigation).
Culture
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Invented the wheel
to make pottery
and vehicles.
The plow
Bronze to make
stronger tools &
weapons
Basic surgery
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Architecture:
arches, ramps, and
columns.
Sculptures
Cylinder seals.
Trade
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Most materials for building obtained
through trade.
Lacked wood, metals, and would trade
for them.
Trade brought social classes.
Hierarchy
1. Kings, priests, agents
2. Landowners, wealthy merchants
3. Artisans, farmers, laborers
4. Slaves (captured in battle)
The Akkadians
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Constant warfare weakened Sumer
and eventual was conquered by
others.
Others adopted Sumerian culture as
the conquered and it continued to
influence Mesopotamia.
The Akkadians lived north of Sumer.
Located on the Euphrates river at the
city of Akkad.
The Akkadians
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Sargon I created
the first permanent
Army.
Conquered all of
Sumer and
Northern
Mesopotamia.
Formed the worlds
first Empire.
Different kingdoms
and people now
under one ruler.
The Akkadians
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Adopted Cuneiform
from the Sumerians.
Akkadians used
Cuneiform to write
their own language.
The Akkadian
languages was the
official language of the
government.
Sumerian language
remained the
language for religious
and literary texts.
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Kept the power of
the priesthood which
helped keep
Sumerian culture.
Lasted about 140
years.
Empire fell to other
tribes.
100 years of chaos
following.
Babylonian Empire
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A tribe called the Amorites settled in
Babylon on the Euphrates river.
1792 B.C.E. the Amorite King
Hammurabi became king of Babylon.
A warrior who united all
Mesopotamia to create the
Babylonian Empire. (named for its
capital)
Hammurabi
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Not only a warrior but great
administrator.
Oversaw great building projects
Improved tax collection system
Increased trade
Absorbed earlier cultures
Continued Sumerian traditions and
Cuneiform.
Hammurabi’s Code
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Most famous for his
code of laws.
282 laws dealing with
every aspect of life.
Codified, and written
down for all to see
across the Empire.
3. If any one bring an
accusation of a serious
crime before the
elders, and does not
prove what he has
charged, he shall, be
put to death.
56. If any one open his
ditches to let in the
water to his crop, and
the water overflow the
plantation of his
neighbor, he shall pay
ten gur of corn for
every ten gan of land.
 136. If any one leave
his house, run away,
and then his wife go
to another house, if
then he wishes to take
his wife back, the wife
of this runaway shall
not return to her
husband.
Babylon Empire
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Babylon become Mesopotamia’s
greatest city.
After Hammurabi died the Empires
power declined
In less then 200 years the Empire
had Fallen.
The Hittites
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Various tribes
conquered
Mesopotamia following
the fall of Babylon.
They were a tribe
from Asia Minor
(Turkey).
War like tribe
Success through horse
drawn chariots.
Heavy, slow, but three
people to drive,
defend, and attack.
They sacked Babylon,
which fell later.
Hittite Culture
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Blended their cultures with those
around them.
Used Sumerian Cuneiform and a
similar code to Hammurabi.
First in the region to master iron
work techniques.
Peak in 1300s but remained a strong
force until 1200 B.C.E.
The Fell to the Sea Peoples
The Assyrians
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From northern Mesopotamia from the
city of Assur along the Tigris river.
Grew barley and raised cattle.
Adopted Sumerian culture as well.
Good rainfall and sat among major
trade routes. Many Tribes invaded due
to this.
Been conquered various times, gained
power a short time but did not last.
Eventually ruled all of Mesopotamia 900
B.C.E.
The Assyrians
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They relied on
Military Strength
they developed
from frequent
warfare.
Chariots, foot
soldiers, cavalry all
with iron weapons.
Masters of Siege
warfare.
The Assyrians
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Relied on terror tactics to spread fear
and control conquered areas.
Killed or maimed captives, enslaved,
and split up and resettled people to
keep people from rebelling.
The Assyrians
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Efficient government ruling through
local leaders that governed a small
area.
Linked the empire with roads with
messengers for communication.
Nineveh (NI-nuh-vuh)- a massive
library in their capital including 20,000
Cuneiform tablets (Epic of Gilgamesh).
A valuable source for scholars today.
The Empire grew to big to control and
fell to other tribes.
The Chaldeans
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Chaldeans (Kal-Deeunzs)
Lived in southern
Mesopotamia
Joined forces with the
Medes to defeat the
Assyrians.
Chaldeans picked up
the pieces and took
over.
Made Babylon their
capital
The New Babylonian Empire
Chaldeans are also known as the
second Babylonian Empire.
 Nebuchadnezzar II: the most famous
Chaldean King
(neb-uh-kuhd-nez-uhr)
 A warrior and great Builder
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The Chaldeans Build
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Rebuilt Babylon into a
place of splendor.
Palaces, temples,
immense multi-storied
ziggurats, filled the
city, and the
Euphrates river flowed
through it.
Temple featured the
hanging gardens (one
of the seven wonders
of the ancient world.
The Chaldeans
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Surprise, Surprise they adopted
Sumerian culture, studied its
language, built temples to Sumerian
gods.
Developed a Calendar based on the
phases of the moon and made
advances in astronomy.
The Chaldeans Fall
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In spite of their many achievements
the empire was short-lived.
Less then 100 years in 539 B.C.E.
they are conquered by the Persians.
The Phoenicians
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During the rise and
fall of empires,
smaller states
emerged.
Various city-states in
western Asia emerged
in Phoenicia as trading
centers.
Often under the rule
of foreign empires
The Phoenicians
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Now in the nation
of Lebanon.
Farming was
difficult and
resources were
limited due to
rugged hills.
They turned to
trade and the sea
for their livelihood.
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Expert sailors.
Dominated trade on
the Mediterranean
Ports in Egypt,
Greece, Italy, Sicily,
and Spain.
Sailed along African
coast and to Britain.
It is not known how
far they have sailed.
The Phoenicians
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They founded many colonies along
trade routes like Carthage.
Traded wood from giant cedar trees,
local shell fish produce purple dye,
invented glassblowing (heating and
shaping glass).
The Phoenicians
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Greatest achievement
was their Alphabet.
Letters and alphabets
more flexible then
other systems with
symbols.
Consisted of 22
letters, all consonants.
Many adopted a
similar one like the
Greeks and our own.