Download Civilization Begins in Mesopotamia

Civilization Begins in Mesopotamia
Between the Rivers
• Region is known as the
“Fertile Crescent” and
Mesopotamia
– “Between the rivers”
• Tigris and Euphrates Rivers
– Had unpredictable floods that
deposited silt
– Used irrigation to control water
• Ideal for large-scale farming
• As a result, could grow a large
amount of food and support a
large population.
– Civilization emerges.
•
Mesopotamia generally refers to three
areas:
– Assyria
– Akkad
– Sumer (3000 – 2340 BC)
• First Mesopotamian Civilization
Religion and Government
• Religion
– Believed unreliable gods and
goddess controlled all aspects of
the universe.
• Why would they think this?
– Polytheistic
• Belief in many gods.
– Humans were supposed to obey
and serve the gods.
• Humans were inferior and would
never know what the gods may do
to them.
– Every city had a ziggurat
• Temple devoted to the gods.
• Government
– Theocracy
• A government by divine authority.
– Believed the gods ruled the cities.
– Rulers derived their power from
the gods.
City-States
• Sumerian civilization was
made up of large cities
that had control over
surrounding countryside.
– City-State
• Surrounded by walls.
• Constructed of sun-dried
mud bricks.
• Economies were based on
farming and trade.
– Traded with India and the
Mediterranean.
Writing
• The Sumerians greatest invention was their writing, called
cuneiform.
– Used mostly to keep records.
– Only wealthy boys would be taught how to write (Scribe).
Sumerian Art
• Made pottery, cloth, and metalwork
– Used gold, copper, silver, and bronze
Standard of Ur
Found in a grave in the
Royal Cemetery at Ur…
Standard of Ur - War
Standard of Ur - Peace
Where do you see evidence of the existence of a social
structure in Sumerian society?
Fall of Sumer
• Akkadians invade
and overtake the
Sumerian city-states.
(2340BC)
– First Empire?
– Sargon I
• Akkad falls in
2100BC
• City-states fought
until 1792BC when
Babylon took power
under Hammurabi