mesopotamia and sumer

Chapter 2Section 1

• Fertile Crescent• Mesopotamia• Ziggurat• City-State• Polytheism• Dynasty• Cuneiform• Sargon• Hammurabi

Fertile Crescent-curve between the Mediterranean and Persian Sea

Richest soils between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers

Called Mesopotamia

5500 BC farming Grew wheat grain

barley Dug basins to save

water Made canals for

irrigation

Sumerians developed the first civilization.

Built of mud bricks Ziggurats-pyramid

style structure Walls around city City-state- a

political unit with its own government

Polytheism- the worship of many gods

Believed gods controlled all forces

God Enil ruled the air and storms

Gods were like humans◦ Drank, fell in love,

married and fought

Worked hard to please the gods

Built temples Priests held high

status War chiefs became

kings◦ They served the gods

Dynasty-series of rulers from one family

Cuneiform the first style of writing◦ Used a stylus a

sharp tool◦ Made wedge-

shaped symbols Wrote laws,

business accounts, first book◦ Epic of Gilgamesh

Math and Sciences◦ Developed math

based on number 60◦ Still divide hour into

minutes ◦ Circle into 360

degrees◦ Learned geometry◦ Invented the wheel◦ The plow◦ Built sewers

The Arts◦ Use of arches and

ramps◦ Sculpture of wide

open eyes◦ Engraved cylinder

seals engraved all around

◦ Rolled onto wet clay Used to sign

documents

Trade and Society◦ Lacked wood and

metals◦ Sumerians trade for

items◦ Trades across

southwest Asia◦ Formed social

hierarchy Kings and priests Large landowners and

merchants Artisans and farmers

Men and women had distinct roles

Men ◦ Held political office◦ Made laws

Women◦ Took care of the

home◦ Took care of children

Sargon’s Empire◦ 2330 BC◦ Created a

permanent army◦ Used army to

conquer Sumer◦ Ruled from Akad◦ Formed world’s first

empire

Empire- different kingdoms under one rule◦ Akkadian’s adopted

cuneiform◦ Sumerian remained

the main language for religion

◦ Priests had a lot of power

◦ Empire lasted 140 years

Amorites settled in Babylon◦ 1792 BC Hammurabi

is king◦ United all of

Mesopotamia◦ Oversaw building

projects◦ Improved tax

collection

Hammurabi◦ Increased trade◦ Absorbed culture of

the region◦ Most famous for

Hammurabi’s Code◦ 282 laws dealing

with trade, murder, theft, injury

◦ Was written for all people to see