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Civilization Begins in Mesopotamia

Explore the birthplace of civilization in Mesopotamia, the fertile land between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers where the Sumerians thrived with their advanced culture, trade, writing, and city-states like Babylon. Discover the origins of polytheistic beliefs, ziggurats, and the innovative cuneiform writing system.

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Civilization Begins in Mesopotamia

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  1. Civilization Begins in Mesopotamia The Fertile Crescent

  2. Between the Rivers • “The Fertile Crescent” • Mesopotamia • Means “between the rivers” • Tigris and Euphrates • They flood and deposit silt that was ideal for farming. • Floods were unpredictable • Used irrigation to control water • Can grow a large amount of food • Cities could become larger

  3. Sumer

  4. First Mesopotamian civilization was Sumer (Around 3000BC) • Religion and Government • Were polytheistic • Belief in many gods. • Humans were supposed to obey and serve the gods. • Gods and Goddesses owned the cities • Theocracy • A government by divine authority.

  5. City-States • Large cities that had control over surrounding countryside. • Surrounded by walls. • Homes were built of sun-dried mud bricks. • Every city had a ziggurat – temple devoted to the gods.

  6. Ziggurat at Ur

  7. Economy and Trade • Economy was based on farming and trade. • Traded with India and the Mediterranean. • Made pottery, cloth, and metalwork • Used Gold, Copper, Silver, Bronze

  8. Writing and Technology • The Sumerians greatest invention was their writing, called cuneiform.

  9. Writing and Technology • Used cuneiform mostly to keep records. • Scribe became an important position for wealthy boys only. • Also had several other inventions… • Wheel (Wagon and Potters) • Sundial • Arch • Devised a number system based on 60

  10. Standard of Ur

  11. Standard of Ur - Front “War”

  12. Standard of Ur “Peace”

  13. Creation of Empires • Akkadians invade and overtake the Sumerian city-states. (2340BC) • Sargon I • First Empire • Akkad falls in 2100BC • City-states fought until 1792BC when Babylon took power under Hammurabi

  14. Sumer

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