Civilization Begins in Mesopotamia The Fertile Crescent Between

Civilization Begins in Mesopotamia The Fertile Crescent

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

Sumer

• First Mesopotamian civilization was Sumer (Around 3000 BC) – 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.

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.

Ziggurat at Ur

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

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

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

Standard of Ur

Standard of Ur - Front “War”

Standard of Ur “Peace”

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

Sumer