chapter 4: mesopotamia lesson 1: the sumerians bell ringer what are 3 reasons early civilizations...
TRANSCRIPT
Chapter 4: Mesopotamia
Lesson 1: The Sumerians
Bell Ringer
What are 3 reasons early civilizations would need to invent a written form of
language?
The First Civilizations in Mesopotamia
Civilizations first developed around 3,000 BC in river valleys Located in Mesopotamia, Egypt, India, and
ChinaVery similar to each otherHad social classes
Depended on your occupation
Had governments Set up laws, defended the people, and built large
projects
Had values and beliefs These gave meaning to life
Two Rivers Mesopotamia- “the land between the rivers”
Was the earliest known civilization
Located between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers The Fertile Crescent
A curving strip of good farm land
Early Valley Dwellers People first settled Mesopotamia around 7,000 BC
These people were hunters and herders
By 4,000 BC they began to build farming villages
Taming the Rivers Water from the rivers was used to water their fields
Floods left behind silt – small particles of soil great for farming
Created a system of irrigation – system that supplies water to dry lands
Dug canals from the water source to their fields
Led to a surplus - extra amounts of food
Led to more trade and development of cities like Sumer
Sumer’s CivilizationPeople living here were known as SumeriansBuilt cities which became centers of
civilization
City-States AriseCity-state – a city that governs itself and its
surround territoryWere cut off from their neighbors due to harsh
landscapeHad their own governmentPopulations were between 5,000 – 20,000 peopleUsed mud to make bricks for buildingOften fought and traded with each other
Gods, Priests, and Kings Polytheism – worshipped many gods
had powers over different parts of life
Each city-state picked a god to represent them Built ziggurats – pyramid-shaped structures with a
temple at the top to honor them The top was considered a holy place
Priests were the first rulers of city-states
Monarchies developed and were run by Kings and Queens
First Kings were war heroes
Social Groups People were divided into social classes
Upper class – Kings, Priests and Warriors
Middle Class – merchants, farmers, fishers, and artisans Largest social class
Lower class – slaves Captured in war, criminals, or people in debt
Worked for the upper class
Roles of Men and Women Men went to school and trained for a specific job
Women took care of the home and children
Farmers and TradersMost people living in Sumer were
farmersGrew wheat, barley, and datesRaised sheep, goats, and pigs
Sumerians needed to trade for goods they did not haveTrade routes linked up as far away as
India and EgyptTraded for timber, minerals, and metals
Document Based Question
“To bring about the rule of righteousness in the land, to destroy the wicked and evil-doers; so that the strong should not harm the weak; so that I should rule over and enlighten the land, to further the well being of mankind.”
- Code of Hammurabi
Hammurabi was known for being a fair ruler. What does this code reveal about how he will rule the people in his kingdom?
Why does Hammurabi refer to “wicked and evil-doers”? Who are they?
Turn to Page 74 in your text books:
Look at the map and answer questions 1, 3, and 4.
Look at the timeline and place these events in order, starting with the earliest
Assyrians control Mesopotamia
Settlements develop along the Indus River
Sumerians invent cuneiform
The first Olympic Games
Sumerian Contributions Mesopotamia is considered the “Cradle of
Civilization” Beginning of organized human society
Sumer influenced many future civilizations They copied an improved on what Sumer did
Writing Most important contribution
Earliest known system in the world
Called Cuneiform – wedge shaped marks in soft clay Did not have paper
Mostly wealthy men learned how to write Became scribes – people who copy or write information for
record keeping
Wrote stories like the “Epic of Gilgamesh”
Technology and Mathematics First people to use the wheel
Built carts which were pulled by donkeys
Used carts for military called Chariots
Developed the first sailboats Traveled along the rivers
Made the first wooden plow Used for farming
First people to develop Bronze Made from copper and tin
Developed time measurement 60 seconds in a minute
60 minutes in an hour
12 month calendar based on the moon
Reflection
Choose which invention you think is the most significant and explain why you made this choice.
Write AT LEAST 5 sentences to answer this question.
Chapter 4
Lesson 2
Bell Ringer
Why do you think Hammurabi wanted to display his code of laws for his people to
see?
The First Empires Empire – a group of many different lands under one ruler By 2400 BC, Sumer had faded and powerful empires
arose
King Sargon Ruled the Kingdom of Akkad
Conquered what was left of Sumer’
Created the first empire in 2340 BC Lasted for 200 years
Hammurabi Ruled the Kingdom of Babylon
Stretched from the Persian Gulf to the Mediterranean Sea
Known for creating laws called Hammurabi’s Code “eye for an eye”
Considered a just and fair ruler
The Assyrian EmpireExisted 1,000 years after HammurabiBuilt a large and powerful military
numbered around 50,000Had cavalry, infantry, and charioteersRobbed and destroyed villagesTook tribute – forced payments from conquered peopleUsed IRON weapons
Kings and GovernmentExtended from Persian Gulf to Nile RiverCapital city was NinevehDivided into provinces – territories belonging to an
empire Connected by guarded roads
Paid taxes to the king
Life in Assyria Based on other Mesopotamian cultures
Similar laws, harsher punishments
Worshipped same gods
King Ashurbanipal built one of the first libraries Located in Nineveh
Held 25,000 tablets of stories and songs
The Chaldean Empire Took control of Babylonia by 612 BC
Rebelled against Assyrians
Led by King Nabopolassar
Burned Assyrian capital, Nineveh, to the ground
Made Babylon their new capital
Greatness of Babylon Rebuilt by King Nebuchadnezzar (Son of Nabopolassar)
Surrounded by huge brick walls
300 ft. tall ziggurat with a golden roof
Hanging Gardens of Babylon One of the 7 Ancient Wonders
Had a complex irrigation system
Located along a major trade route Caravans – group of merchants traveling together for safety
Fall of the EmpireAfter Nebuchadnezzar
Series of weak kingsPoor harvests/trade
Conquered by PersiaAllowed to keep their culture
Reflection: Why do you think ancient cities had at least one magnificent building?
Write AT LEAST 5 sentences to answer this question.
Use this example of a diagram to brainstorm types of evidence archaeologists might look for
in order to learn about life in ancient Mesopotamia.