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Chapter 4 Mesopotamia The First Civilizations • The first civilizations developed in the river valleys of Mesopotamia, Egypt, India, and China. • The need for water greatly influenced where people settled. The Land Between the Rivers • Mesopotamia means “the land between the rivers” in Greek. • The civilization began between the Tigris and the Euphrates rivers. The Fertile Crescent • Mesopotamia is located inside what is known as the Fertile Crescent, which includes parts of the modern countries of Turkey, Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, Israel, and Jordan. • Why do you think this area was called the fertile crescent? Early Valley Dwellers • Historians believe the first people to settle in Mesopotamia were hunters and herders. • By 4000 B.C. some of these settlers moved to the plains of theTigris-Euphrates valley and built farming villages along the two rivers. • Think Agricultural Revolution!!! Taming the Rivers • Farmers depended on water from rivers to water their crops. • In the summer there was little rain and the rivers became very low. Because of this, farmers did not have enough water for their crops in the fall. Taming the Rivers • In the spring, rain and melting snow from the northern mountains caused these rivers to overflow. At times, violent floods swept away crops, and homes. • BUT these floods could also be helpful. Floodwaters left behind silt, or small particles of soil, which were good for farming. Irrigation is Developed • People in Mesopotamia learned to build dams and dig canals to allow the water source into their fields. This method of watering crops is called irrigation. Irrigation Leads to Surplus • Irrigation allowed farmers to grow a surplus of food. • What are the effects that a surplus of food would have had on one of these ancient communities? Surplus brings change • Surplus of food meant not all men were needed to work at farming, allowing them to pick up other trades and crafts. • As artisans made more goods, people’s lives changed. People began to live together in areas that favored trade and several cities developed in Sumer, a region of Southern Mesopotamia. Sumer • People of Sumer were known as Sumerians (Cradle of Civilization). • Sumerians built the first cities in Southwest Asia, which became centers of civilization and controlled the lower part of the Tigris and Euphrates River Valley. City-States • Mudflats and patches of scorching deserts surrounded Sumer’s cities. • Because of this natural isolation from one another, these cities became independent, and formed their own governments. City States • In gaining political and economic control over the individual cities and the lands around them, city-states were formed. • Often city-states went to war with one another over resources and political borders, but in times of peace, they traded with one another and formed alliances. Gods, Priests, and Kings • Sumerian people worshipped many Gods, a practice known as polytheism. • They believed different gods guided various aspects of their lives, and honored the specific god they thought would help with that activity. Ziggurats • To honor their gods, Sumerians built large temples called ziggurats in their city-states. Priests and Kings • In the early days, the priests of the ziggurat ruled the city states. • Later, Sumerian kings claimed they received the power to rule from the gods. • The rule of the king was hereditary, meaning after he died, his son would take over. Social Groups • Sumerian people were divided into social classes from the time they were born. • Top: Kings, priests, government officials • Middle: Merchants, farmers, fishermen, artisans • Low: Enslaved people Roles of Men and Women Men: • Head of the household • Attended school • Trained for specific jobs Women: • Ran household • Had few civil rights Farmers and Traders • Major crops were wheat, barley, and dates. • Dams and waterways ran through the farmland to water crops. • Sumerians traded for metal and timber. • Trade routes linking Sumer to other places developed. Writing • Earliest known system of writing in the world was developed. • This system was called cuneiform. • Cuneiform was written on clay. • Characters represented names, numbers, and objects. • Scribes , or official record keepers, wrote documents recording important aspects of everyday life. Technology • Sumerians were the first people to use the wheel. • Carts were pulled by donkeys. • The chariot was used in warfare. Technology • For river travel, Sumerians invented the sailboat. The wooden plow , potters wheel, and bronze (combining of copper and tin) were other technological advancements. Astronomy and Mathematics • 60 minute hour, 60 second minute, and 360 degree circle. • 12 month calendar based on the cycles of the moon. • The planting season was based on the positions of the stars.