Lesson 1 The Sumerians CHAPTER 4 MESOPOTAMIA The

The First Civilizations 3000 BC – first civilizations develop River Valley Civilizations Mesopotamia –

Mesopotamia “The land between two rivers” Tigris and Euphrates Modern day Iraq Fertile Crescent

Why civilizations near rivers? Floods – causes fertile soil – good for farming

Sumer First Civilization Location – Southern Mesopotamia Settled 3000 BC They used: Levees –

City States Used sun-dried mud bricks to build Greatest Cities – Ur, Uruk, and

In the City-States Wars were fought between them Ziggurat – Temples at the

Edubbas – schools only for the rich Main subject – writing Cuneiform –

Priest-Kings Sumerian priests who were also kings of the city- state Gilgamesh –

Contributions of Sumer Earliest civilization Written records and laws Wheel, plow, and sailboat 12

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Lesson 1 – The Sumerians CHAPTER 4 MESOPOTAMIA

The First Civilizations 3000 BC – first civilizations develop River Valley Civilizations Mesopotamia – Tigris and Euphrates Rivers Egypt – Nile River India – Indus River China – Yellow River

Mesopotamia “The land between two rivers” Tigris and Euphrates Modern day Iraq Fertile Crescent This area had fertile farmland extending from Israel to Iraq First civilizations developed here

Why civilizations near rivers? Floods – causes fertile soil – good for farming Surplus – extra products that were used to trade for good they did not have Writing – developed because of the need to keep records of trade Trade – helped spread new ideas and customs

Sumer First Civilization Location – Southern Mesopotamia Settled 3000 BC They used: Levees – raised earth to control floods Irrigation – artificial watering system Crops: Barely, wheat, sesame, flax, fruit trees, dates, and vegetables

City States Used sun-dried mud bricks to build Greatest Cities – Ur, Uruk, and Eridu City-States had their own government, religion, and farmland Social Classes Upper class – Kings, priests, warriors, government officials Middle class – merchants, farmers, fishers, artisans Lower class – slaves

In the City-States Wars were fought between them Ziggurat – Temples at the center of the city – surrounded by markets Religion �Polytheism – belief in more than one God �Usually based on forces of nature

Edubbas – schools only for the rich Main subject – writing Cuneiform – Sumerian writing �Scribe- writer, record keeper Women – could own property – Husband is the head of the family �Could sell the wife or children

Priest-Kings Sumerian priests who were also kings of the city- state Gilgamesh – priest-king of Uruk Gilgamesh Epic – p. 84 -85 Assembly �Group of freemen who gave advice to priest-kings and pick a military leader to rule during times of war �Hereditary – kingship passed on from father to son

Contributions of Sumer Earliest civilization Written records and laws Wheel, plow, and sailboat 12 month calendar based on the moon Number system based on 60