Mesopotamian Civilization: Part 1Begun 8/18/2014
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What happened before Mesopotamian Civilization?
* Paleolithic Age2.5 million years ago to
@ 8000 B.C.
*Neolithic Age @ 8000 B.C. to@ 3000 B.C.
Development of Ancient River Valley Civilizations
●aka = “Cradles of Civilizationo3500 BCE
●Rivers needed for irrigation of crops
•1.Mesopotamiao–1.Tigris R. & Euphrates R.
•2.Egypto–1.Nile R.
•3.Indiao–1.Indus R.
•4.Chinao–1.Huang He
First Four River Valley CivilizationsCradles of Civilization
Nile River
Nile River
Mesopotamia
Nile River
Mesopotamia
Indus River
Nile River
Mesopotamia
Indus River
Huang He
Nile River
Mesopotamia
Indus River
Huang He
Why are they called ‘Cradles of
Civilization?’
Characteristics of Civilization
●Complex Social InstitutionsoGovernment
Organized
oComplex Religions Polytheistic
●Advanced TechnologyoIrrigation Systems
oEngineering Palaces/Temples
●Division of LaboroSpecialization of Labor
oArtisans
●CalendaroKeep track of flooding &
religious ceremonies
●Written LanguageoKeep records of
agriculture/taxes
MesopotamiaMeso = Middle
Po = River
Tamia = Land
Part of an area known as the
Fertile
Crescent
What is a city-state?
●•Independent city surrounded by farmland●•Ruled by individual rulers
Farmland
City
Oldest cities in the World are
thought to be Sumer’s.
Farmland
What types of governments began during this time?
Dynasties – * series of rulers from the same family
*usually a Monarchy
Besides rulers, who ranked at the top of social classes?
Priests – people believed they
spoke with the gods.
What were the Sumerian temples?
Ziggurats
What were the Sumerian temples?
Ziggurats – ●•temple & religious
center ●• stored grain
●• housed priests
1. Known as a step pyramid
2. Emphasis(?) = altar at the top
Actual Sumerian Ziggurat
Sumerian Ziggurat ca. 3500 B.C.E.
Mayan Pyramid ca.
700 C.E.
What inventions can be attributed to the Sumerians?
wheel
sail
plow
And….
The City
And….
The umbrella!
The most important invention?....World’s first form of written
language…
Cuneiform
Examples
Created using small wedge-shaped stylus on clay tablets
(1:08)
Sumer (5:29)
The Epic of Gilgamesh* Oldest known written story
*Follows the adventures of the Sumerian King of Uruk
Mesopotamian Civilization: Part 2
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Quiz Friday!
Essential Knowledge
13. What were the 1st 4 River Valley Civilizations?14. What was the name of the earliest known civilization?15. What is an independent city surrounded by farmland?16. What is the earliest known written language?
What other civilizations came about during/after the
Sumerians?
1.Akkadians2.Babylonians3.Phoenicians4.Assyrians5.Hebrews
Akkadians●Greatest Leader = Sargon
●1st to create an Empire
oconquered city-states of
Sumer●Lasted only 200 years ofighting within empireofamine
Sargon of Akkad – 1st Emperor
The Babylonians●•Overtook Sumerians ●•Capital city = Babylon
●•Greatest Ruler =
Hammurabi●•Hammurabi’s greatest contribution = World’s first law code.
Hammurabi’s Law Code●Specific punishments for specific actions
●Property issues ●Harsh punishments.●Social classes punished/rewarded differently
Think/raise/speak (30 seconds)- Is this fair? Why or why not?
Eye for an Eye mentality.Upper classes treated differently from lower classes
Essential Knowledge
17. Who was the World’s 1st Emperor?18. Which Mesopotamian Civilization had Hammurabi as their greatest ruler?19. What was Hammurabi’s greatest achievement?20. True or False: All people were equal under Hammurabi’s Law Code?
Okay, Let’s Review!
What is the term for an independent city which is surrounded by farmland?
A city-state
What was the first civilization to create cities?
Sumer
What were some of the inventions of the
Sumerians?
1.Plow
2.Umbrella
3.Wheel
4.Cities
5.Language
What was their written language called?
Cuneiform
Who was the Akkadian leader who first created an empire?
Sargon
What civilization created a great capital on the banks of
the Euphrates?
The Babylonians
What great Babylonian leader created the first law code?
Hammurabi