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ANCIENT MESOPOTAMIA

ANCIENT MESOPOTAMIA. “Land Between the Rivers”. The Fertile Crescent. This term comes from the shape of the area and the fact that the soil has so many nutrients. VOCABULARY. City-state—

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ANCIENT MESOPOTAMIA

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  1. ANCIENT MESOPOTAMIA “Land Between the Rivers”

  2. The Fertile Crescent • This term comes from the shape of the area and the fact that the soil has so many nutrients.

  3. VOCABULARY • City-state— • A central city and its surrounding villages, which together follow the same law, have one form of government, and share language, religious beliefs, and ways of life.

  4. REASONS TO FORM CITY-STATES • To help protect themselves from invaders • Surrounded cities with strong, high walls • To build and maintain irrigation canals for water • Water was useful to citizens • To help protect valuable trading • Defended against bandits, pirates, and wild animals

  5. CENTERS OF RELIGION • Sumerians believed in many gods (polytheistic) • Each city-state built a temple to a specific god • This god was the ‘guardian’ of the city

  6. VOCABULARY • Ziggurat— • A Mesopotamian terraced pyramid in which each terrace is smaller than the one below it.

  7. GOVERNMENT • Priests: Controlled religion and economy • Kings: Controlled politics and military • Some kings created EMPIRES – groups of countries under one ruler’s control

  8. MESOPOTAMIAN CLASS SYSTEM • Highest Class: • Kings, priests, wealthy landowners • Middle Class: • Skilled workers, merchants, farmers • Lowest Class: • Slaves

  9. WRITING SYSTEM • Cuneiform writing system was used for: • Keeping records • Making lists • Sending business letters • Recording history • Medicine, mathematics, and astronomy

  10. SCRIBES • Few people were able to read and write • “Scribes” were the record keepers • Typically belonged to highest class • Schooling was intense • About 600 characters used in cuneiform

  11. SUMMARY Located in the Fertile Crescent Centers of religious worship MESOPOTAMIA Used a class system Developed a system of writing

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