River Valleys UnitRiver Valleys UnitMesopotamiaMesopotamia

Civilization Emerges along the Civilization Emerges along the Tigris and Euphrates ValleysTigris and Euphrates Valleys

Mesopotamia:Mesopotamia: the Land between the rivers the Land between the rivers

Continent:Continent: AsiaAsia

Rivers:Rivers: TigrisTigris, , EuphratesEuphrates

Time:Time: 3000 to3000 to

1500 BC1500 BC

Mesopotamia: the LandMesopotamia: the Land

Two rivers: Tigris and EuphratesTwo rivers: Tigris and Euphrates Brought water for farmingBrought water for farming Brought floodsBrought floods

Lots of damageLots of damage Not on a schedule, Not on a schedule, unpredictableunpredictable

Flat land, no natural protection Flat land, no natural protection Many invadersMany invaders

Therefore, people were fearfulTherefore, people were fearful

A government is needed for the A government is needed for the many peoplemany people

Governments created for each cityGovernments created for each city Called Called CITY-STATESCITY-STATES

The city + the land around itThe city + the land around it Ruled by a kingRuled by a king Priests, religious leaders, had important job: Priests, religious leaders, had important job:

keep the gods happy and prevent floodskeep the gods happy and prevent floods

By 2300 BC, By 2300 BC, SargonSargon, the king of the , the king of the city of Akkad, had united all of the city of Akkad, had united all of the city-states into an city-states into an EmpirEmpire under his e under his controlcontrol

Sargon and his EmpireSargon and his Empire

Mesopotamia’s ReligionMesopotamia’s Religion

PolytheisticPolytheistic ““poly” = manypoly” = many ““theis” = godstheis” = gods They believed in many godsThey believed in many gods

They feared their godsThey feared their gods Wanted the gods to stop Wanted the gods to stop

the floodsthe floods

They built They built ZIGGURATSZIGGURATS to worship their godsto worship their gods

Mesopotamia’s AccomplishmentsMesopotamia’s Accomplishments

World’s 1World’s 1stst Writing Writing SystemSystem CuneiformCuneiform Used a Used a stylusstylus Wrote on Wrote on wet wet

clayclay tablets tablets, , which were then which were then drieddried

Men who did the Men who did the writing were writing were called called scribesscribes

Mesopotamia’s AccomplishmentsMesopotamia’s AccomplishmentsArchitectureArchitecture

What kinds of buildings do you see? How do you know who is poor?

What was built for protection?

Mesopotamia’s AccomplishmentsMesopotamia’s Accomplishments

World’s first World’s first literatureliterature, , written storieswritten stories EPICEPIC

A VERY, VERY long poemA VERY, VERY long poem Title was Title was GILGAMESHGILGAMESH

Story of a hero who Story of a hero who wants to be like the wants to be like the gods and live forevergods and live forever

The gods tell him NO! The gods tell him NO! He must die because he He must die because he is not allowed to live is not allowed to live foreverforever

Mesopotamia’s AccomplishmentsMesopotamia’s Accomplishments

MathematicsMathematics

Measured and dividedMeasured and divided circle into 360 degreescircle into 360 degrees

Divided time into hours Divided time into hours and minutes, each with and minutes, each with 60 parts60 parts

Mesopotamia’s AccomplishmentsMesopotamia’s Accomplishments

InventionsInventions PlowPlow

4 wheeled wagon4 wheeled wagon

Irrigation systemsIrrigation systems

Mesopotamia’s AccomplishmentsMesopotamia’s Accomplishments

Astronomy, knowledge of the moon, Astronomy, knowledge of the moon, planets, starsplanets, stars

Developed calendarDeveloped calendar Gave the planets names as godsGave the planets names as gods

Mesopotamia’s AccomplishmentsMesopotamia’s Accomplishments

Mesopotamia’s AccomplishmentsMesopotamia’s AccomplishmentsMagnificent objects of GoldMagnificent objects of Gold

http://www.watchknowlearn.org/Video.aspx?VideoID=1565&CategoryID=5711