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Early River Civilizations Mesopotamia and the Sumerians

Early River Civilizations Mesopotamia and the Sumerians. World History Pullen. Mesopotamia- The land between the rivers. The Tigris – Euphrates Rivers form the Fertile Crescent Silt Good weather Flood unpredictably The Zagros and Taurus Mountains, Syrian Desert

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Early River Civilizations Mesopotamia and the Sumerians

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  1. Early River CivilizationsMesopotamia and the Sumerians World History Pullen

  2. Mesopotamia- The land between the rivers • The Tigris – Euphrates Rivers form the Fertile Crescent • Silt • Good weather • Flood unpredictably • The Zagros and Taurus Mountains, Syrian Desert • Natural barriers to keep out intruders • modern day Iraq, parts of Turkey, and parts of Syria

  3. Mesopotamia- Map

  4. Mesopotamia: Sumer • Sumer included the cities of Ur and Kish • The city state of Sumer grew as more people began to settle in the fertile areas. • Population grew along the rivers. • The growth of the population encouraged new technology: • Irrigation • Development of artificial lakes and ponds • Why?!?

  5. Irrigation • Irrigation is the method of getting water to specific areas of farmland through drainage pipes or ditches. • An irrigated field:

  6. Early Governments • No boundaries. Each city is independent. • Early government ruled by priests • leaders in charge of irrigation systems of canals as well as work crews, appointed inspectors, and settled arguments. • Surplus of grain kept in temples. • Collection of taxes - grain, animals, farm products. • Prayed, made sacrifices to please the gods. • Spent lives serving the gods.

  7. Record Keeping • Record keeping is needed when government, religion, and economy become more complex. • Scribes: professional record keepers • Cuneiform: Sumerian writing with a wedged stick and clay tablet

  8. Sumerian Contributions: The first kings • Eventually military leaders became kings. Why? • Conflict was over land boundaries and use of water. • Defended the cities against invaders • Managed irrigation works, surplus grain, chief judge in all arguments. • Kingship came down from heaven. • Dynasty: A series of rulers from the same family

  9. Sumerian Contributions: Religion • Polytheism: Many gods • controlled everything • immortal and all powerful. • Gods would protect or destroy

  10. Four (4) important Gods: • An: Father of all gods, God of the sky • Enlil: God of the air. Gave kings their power • Enki: God of the water. Ruled city of Eridu • Ninhursag: Mother goddess • Nonna: Moon God. Ruled Ur • Others: sun God goddess of love and war Each city had its own god. Why?

  11. People of Sumeria • Social Classes (3) • Highest class included: King, government officials, priests, wealthy merchants and landowners • Middle class included: Farmers, fishermen, artisans • Lowest class included: slaves, prisoners, people who did not own land and children • Women had some freedom of job choice and could hold property • Why do most civilizations (even our own) have social classes?

  12. Mesopotamia: Division of Labor and Economy • Everyone had a job in Sumeria • Examples: bricklayers, canal builders, butchers, artists • Barter! • Barter is the exchange of surplus food items for materials that are needed. Why don’t we use barter today?

  13. Hammurabi • Created a written law code • Unified the empire • 282 specific laws • Family relations, business conduct, and crimes • Different punishments for rich and poor • Government has a responsibility to organize society Why was it important that the law code be written down?

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