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Chapter 2 Section 3 & 4 Sumerian Civilization & Empires of the Fertile Crescent The Fertile Crescent • Fertile Crescent • b/w Mediterranean Sea and Persian Gulf • b/w Tigris and Euphrates Rivers • Map pg 28 Sumer • Lowest part of Tigris-Euphrates Valley • Rich soil • Sumerians used metal as early as 3000 B.C Sumerian City-States • City-State= Land of city and surroundings controlled just by its own city • Ur, Erech, & Kish had thousands of residents • Seldom united • Priests started out as rulers • Warlords took over as kings as there was a need for control in city-states Sumerian Writing • Earliest written language • No paper & Carved into clay • Cuneiform- Sumerian writing consisted of over 600 symbols all in wedge form Sumerian Engineering • Built with sun dried bricks made of mud and straw • Sumerians biggest contribution in engineering= The ARCH • Arch= Curved structure with an opening Continued • ZigguratsSumerian Temples – Layered buildings each layer getting smaller to the top Numbering and Math • Everything in multiples of 60 • Big numbers example 120 would be two 60’s • Circle 360 degrees = six 60’s • Time- hour= 60 minutes –Minute= 60 seconds • Had a Lunar Calendar Education & Religion • Polytheistic (believed in many gods) • Only Upper class boys went to school to be educated Empires Of the Fertile Crescent • Lack of unity of the Sumerian City-States made them vulnerable to attack and take over Akkadians • Akkadians conquered Sumerians Around 2330 B.C. • Came from Just north of Sumer in Mesopotamia • Sargon- most powerful Akkadian King • Expanded Empire to Mediterranean Sea • Akkadian Empire Lasted 100 years Babylonians • Took over Fertile Crescent 1792 B.C. • Hammurabi Powerful Babylonian Leader • Developed the Code of Hammurabi – 282 laws – Covered many rights such as working conditions, wages, and fees for charges – Judges appointed by the king enforced these laws – Most punishments for laws breakers were “eye for an eye,” ruling Babylonian Social classes/religion • Same social class break as the Sumerians • Marriages- were arranged from parents • Husband of the marriage had control – Man head of household – Only the man could get a divorce • Code of Hammurabi still protected women as well as men for fair treatment • Polytheistic- Adopted Sumerian religion Hittites • • • • • Very Warlike Good Fighters First to make & use iron weapons Ruled in1600 B.C. Rule short lived too far from home Assyrians • • • • Great conquers Ruled Fertile Crescent around 900 B.C. Ruled over Syria, Babylonia, and Egypt First to have a major cavalry (units of soldiers on horseback) Assyrian Government • Emperor/King had absolute power • Each conquered Territory had an Appointed Governor Appointed by King • King made inspections • Army most important part of government • Soldiers gained wealth from the lands they conquered Assyrian Greatness • • • • Capital Nineveh Very fortified Had aqueducts Large Libraries were built in the city, Compilation of many Clay tablets • Great Epic (Epic of Gilgamesh) Chaldeans • Ruled by Nebuchadnezzar 605-562 B.C. – Rebuilt City of Babylon – Very Strong Leader (heart and soul of Chaldean Empire) – Made the Hanging Gardens (One of the seven wonders of the world) • After Nebuchadnezzar’s death Chaldean Empire Fell to the Persians) Persians • Conquered Babylon & Chaldeans in 539 B.C. • Early kings very powerful • Established and Expanded the biggest empire in history to this point. • Kings all powerful – Great leaders and generals Great Persian Kings • Cyrus- took over rule in Iran – Conquered Babylon after Nebuchadnezzar – Greatly expanded the empire – Took control of all of the Fertile Crescent • Darius- Second Persian Emperor – Greatly expanded the empire more than just Fertile Crescent – Gained control of parts of Greece Continued • Xerxes-Third great Persian Emperor – Expanded the empire even more • All Persian emperors had a good sense of justice and treated their conquered territories better than previous empires • Starting with Cyrus territories were allowed to keep their own religion and laws Persian Religion • Persians=new form of religion from influential profit (Zoroaster) • Zoroastrianism- Belief that every person on earth had a choice – To do good in the world – Or to do evil – Life on earth was training for a better life – Good will triumph over evil in the end Fall of Persian Empire • After Xerxes= Weaker Leadership • Finally taken over by Alexander the Great Quiz • 1. What are the two major rivers in the Fertile Crescent? • 2. What architectural advancements did the Sumerians give us? • 3. Define a city state • 4. Define Polytheism • 5. What was the First Empire to use Iron Weapons? • 6. What Empire used the first cavalry? • 7. Who built the Hanging Gardens of Babylon for his wife? • 8. Name the three great Persian Kings. • 9. Who takes over Persia?