Chapter 2 Section 1

1. Chapter 2Section 1 Civilization Begins in Mesopotamia

2. Objectives • Explain the importance of Geography to Mesopotamian civilizations • Analyze the achievements of Sumerian city-states • Identify the economic, religious, and cultural components of ancient Mesopotamia

3. The Impact of Geography • Ancient Greeks referred to the land between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers as Mesopotamia. • Mesopotamia was located at the eastern end of an area known as the Fertile Crescent, an arc of land from the Mediterranean Sea to the Persian Gulf.

4. Map of Ancient Mesopotamia

5. The Impact of Geography • Mesopotamia: had little rain, but its soil had been enriched over the years by layers of silt. • Flooding was a major problem in the valley. • Farming could only be accomplished by controlling the river. • How was this done? • What did it result in?

7. The City States of Mesopotamia • Sumer: Origins unknown, but by 3000 B.C. the Sumerians had established a number of cities. • Eridu, Ur, Uruk • As these cities expanded, they took control of the surrounding countryside, forming city-states. • Surrounded by walls • What materials were these city states constructed from?

8. Gods, Goddesses and Rulers • Most prominent building was the temple • The temple was often built on a ziggurat. • Sumerians believed Gods and Goddesses owned the cities, making the states a theocracy, a government by divine authority. • Priests and Priestess supervised the temple and property. • Kingship was divine in origin

9. Sumerian Kings • Led armies • Supervised the building of public works • Organized workers for irrigation projects • The army, government, priests and priestess aided the kings in their rule

10. Economy and Society • Based chiefly on farming, but trade and industry became important. • Known for their metalwork, woolen textiles and pottery. • Had an import/export trade. • Traders traveled by land to the eastern Mediterranean in the west and by Sea to India in the east. • What was invented in 3000 B.C. that made trade easier?

11. Economy and Society cont. • Three major social groups: • Nobles • Included royal and priestly officials and their families • Commoners • Worked at palace and temple estates and as farmers, merchants, fishers, and craftspeople. • 90% of the population were farmers • Slaves • “Belonged” to the palace officials, and were utilized in building projects. Rich landowners also had slaves.

12. Empires in Ancient Mesopotamia • As Sumerian city-states grew and expanded, conflict arose for control of land and water • To the north of the Sumerians were the Akkadians. • Around 2340 BC the Akkadian leader Sargon overran the Sumerian City states and set up an empire. • What is an empire?

13. Empires in Ancient Mesopotamia • Attacks led to the fall of the Akkadian Empire by 2100 B.C., and resulted in the return of warring city states • In 1792 BC, leadership came from Babylon, a city-state south of Akkad, where Hammurabi came to power, controlling Sumer and Akkad. • This created a new Mesopotamian Kingdom.

14. The Code of Hammurabi • The Hammurabi law code is the most complete law codes known from ancient civilizations, containing over 282 laws. • These laws offer insight into social conditions in Mesopotamia • Penalties for criminal offenses were severe and based upon the social class of a victim. • Example: Upper Class victim, Lower class offender vs. same class • Focused heavily on retaliation.

15. Hammurabi’s Code • Set high standards for officials. • Catch burglars, if not, they must replace lost property. • Murders not found, officials had to pay a fine to relatives. • Consumer protection laws • Builders held responsible.

16. Code of Hammurabi • The largest category focused on marriage and family. • There were arranged marriages with a contract. • Society was patriarchal. Women had limited power, and Fathers ruled their children and wives.

17. Importance of Religion • To the Mesopotamians, powerful spiritual beings- gods and goddesses- permeated all aspects of the universe • Mesopotamia had a harsh climate with floods, humidity, winds, and downpours. These, combined with famines, led them to believe the world was controlled by supernatural forces, and they felt helpless.

18. The Importance of Religion (cont.) • Mesopotamia religion was polytheistic because they believed in many gods. • They identified almost three thousand gods and goddesses. • According to Sumerian beliefs, humans were created to do the manual labor the gods were unwilling to do for themselves.

19. The Creativity of the Sumerians:Writing and Literature • Around 3000 B.C. Sumerians created a cuneiform system of writing. • Using a reed (tool for writing) they made wedge-shaped impressions in clay tablets, which dried in the sun. • The tablets lasted a very long time.Several hundred have been found and offer insight to scholars.

20. The Creativity of the Sumerians:Writing and Literature • Writing was used for record keeping. • Cuneiform texts were used in schools to train scribes. • What were scribes? • Why were they important? • Scribes attended school from the time they were children until young men. Discipline was harsh. (Textbook, Page 43)

21. The Creativity of the Sumerians:Writing and Literature (cont) • One of the most important pieces of Mesopotamian civilization was the Epic of Gilgamesh. • Poem about a legendary king and his quest for immortality. • Moral: everlasting life is only for the Gods

22. Sumerian Technology • Inventions: • Wagon Wheel • Potter’s Wheel • Sundial • First to make bronze out of copper and tin • Made achievements in Math and Astronomy • Number systems based on 60, Geometry used to chart fields, Astronomy to chart the sky.

23. Homework Page 43 Section 1 Assessment Questions 1-6 For #3, you do not need to write anything, but please consult chapter maps because this may be asked on a test!!