Fertile Crescent

PROS

It is rich in natural resources.

It is on the crossroads of Asia, Europe, and Africa therefore it is a good place for trade and commerce.

The contact among other people led to an exchange of ideas that brought about great achievements.

CONS

It has few natural barriers making it often overrun by invaders.

There is a diversity of the people in the region, making it difficult to unite under one ruler.

Why is it called “The Cradle of Civilization”?

It is called the Cradle of Civilization because it is believed that Mesopotamia is the first place where civilized society truly began to

take shape.

A part of the Fertile Crescent.

It is now known as Iraq.

Its terrain made it attractive to neighboringplaces and its lack of natural barriers made it easy for invaders to attack.

It is the land between the rivers of the Euphrates and the Tigris.

It is situated between Zagros and Anti-Taurus Mountains in the north, and the Arabian Plateau and the Persian Gulf in the south.

People who lived in Southern Mesopotamia.

They were farmers and city builders.

They were highly creative people who made lasting contributions to humanity.

The Sumerians were divided into the so-called “Independent City-States.”

Reason:

Since rainfall is sparse, Sumerians dug canals: 1. To control the Spring Floods of the Tigris and Euphrates

2. And to irrigate the land

They built cities along the rivers and tributaries causing each city to be isolated and therefore becoming an independent city-state.

It is a name used to call the temple.

It is a massive tower that dominated the city.

It is built for the different gods of each city-state.

Although the priests owned a lot of territory, they did not rule over the city.

Their ruler was called “King.”

Kings are also their war-leaders.

Originally, Kings are elected, but due to frequent wars between two city-states, it became hereditary.

It is their system of writing.

Cuneiform means “wedge-shaped” because of the shape and the marks made by the stylus.

First people known to use a wheel.

First people to invent writing.

Invention of Mathematical Ideas such as “Sexagisimal”, which is the division of the hour to 60 min, and a minute into 60 seconds.

Invention of the plow.

They invented the 12 months Calendar.

They were the first to use arches, columns and inclined walls.

A city North of Mesopotamia.

Sargon founded the empire.

It is the first empire to be recorded in history.

Who is Sargon?

Sargon was once a soldier

He founded the Akkadian Empire.

He proclaimed himself as:

“Lord of the Four Quarters of the World”

Accomplishments of King Sargon:

Extended the irrigation system.

Extended the flood control of Mesopotamia.

Protected trade caravans with his armies.

Akkadian Empire

Way of Writing:

Cuneiform

Same Religion

Sam Scientific Ideas

Same Political Ideas

Sumerian Civilization

Way of Writing:

Cuneiform

Same Religion

Same Scientific Ideas

Same Political Ideas

Accomplishments:

Reunited the Akkadian Empire

for a brief period of time.

He compiled the First Known

code of laws summarizing the

Sumerian ideas of justice.

INVADER: A group called the Amorites later known as the Babylonian Empire.

RULER: King Hammurabi

TIME: Around 2000 BCE

Babylonian Empire was once a group called the Amorites.

They built a small village called Babylon.

Soon, the village grew magnificent and powerful.

They built a giant ziggurat for their Chief Babylonian god, Marduk.

KING HAMMURABI

He came from Syria.

He united the Southern Mesopotamia under his rule.

He was one of the great rulers of ancient times.

He created the famous,

CODE OF HAMMURABI.

KING HAMMURABI

He was an outstanding general.

He was the Patron of the Arts.

He was an able Administrator.

An Eight-foot column of black stone.

It is filled with writings of Code of Laws.

Contains: 282 Laws about trade, family labor, real estate, and personal property.

Principle:

“An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.”

“To cause justice to prevail inthe land, to destroy the wicked

and the evil, to prevent thestrong from oppressing the weak, and to further

the welfare of the people.”

The Hittite Empire adopted the

Babylonian way of life

Such as the Babylonian Cuneiform, government and religion.

INVADER: ASSYRIAN EMPIRE

TIME: AROUND 1200 BCE

EFFECT: THE MOST HATED AND BRUTAL INVADER OF MESOPOTAMIA CAME TO POWER.

It was once a city-state named after their chief god, Assur.

They invaded people after people until they had an empire that included the entire Fertile Crescent and Egypt.

They also possessed a highly disciplined army.

“I CUT OFF THEIR HEADS,

AND LIKE HEAPS OF GRAIN,

I PILED THEM UP”

- Assyrian Ruler

The empire was divided into provinces each ruled by a Governor.

They also

Built roads

To speed

The movement

Of the army

From province

To province.

Nineveh was the capital of the Assyrian Empire.

It is where the first library is located.

It was built with the taxes collected from the people.

The Assyrian Empire was the one who built the first library in history.

It houses 22,000 clay tablets written in cuneiform.

The Library was tasked to organize and preserve valuable records.

Reasons as to why the Assyrian Empire declined:

The troublesome people were deported into the remote parts of the empire leading to an exchange of ideas among the oppressed and conquered people of the Fertile Crescent causing a rebellion to occur.