Mr. Deaton

Highlands High School

Mr. Deaton

Highlands High School

The Ancient Fertile Crescent Area

The Ancient Fertile Crescent Area• Lies btwn the Tigris and

Euphrates Rivers.• This created the ideal

situation for agriculture -> sustainable food. Significance?

• What also aids in its development is its location in relationship to developing neighbors.

• Signif? Can be the center of trade and exchange.• What do you notice about where this is located in

modern terms? Why might this explain current resistance?

SumeriansSumerians

Sumerian Religion - Polytheistic

Sumerian Religion - Polytheistic

Enki

Enki

Innana

Innana

Anthropomorphic Gods

Anthropomorphic Gods

• So Polytheistic means many and So Polytheistic means many and Monotheistic means one. This refers to Monotheistic means one. This refers to religion.religion.

• What would be the advantages for What would be the advantages for Mesopotamia to worship many Gods? Mesopotamia to worship many Gods?

Ziggurat- temples built by Sumerians

Mesopotamian TradeMesopotamian Trade

Main trade centers

Cuneiform: “Wedge-Shaped” Writing

Cuneiform: “Wedge-Shaped” Writing

Deciphering Cuneiform

Deciphering Cuneiform

Sumerian ScribesSumerian Scribes

“Tablet House” “Tablet House”

• Now we begin to have specialized skilled jobs, which marks a trait of a civilization.

• Now that we can write down information, it allowed humans to transfer knowledge; how to farm.

• Now civilizations like Mesopotamia use practices like crop rotation and almanacs that predicted the best time plant.

• With a stable food sources and specialized jobs, what do you think happened to the population?

• While this growth is good, it does lead to conflict. Think of three conflicts that resulted from all these advancements. IOW what did groups fight about?

Growth Leads to ConflictGrowth Leads to Conflict

• Competition over food- neighboring groups will try to Competition over food- neighboring groups will try to overtake other tribes for their food source, particularly overtake other tribes for their food source, particularly if their resources are low.if their resources are low.

• Basics of Civilization- They will fight over religion, Basics of Civilization- They will fight over religion, trade, laws, norms, and trade, laws, norms, and leadershipleadership..

• High and Low Class- The creation of farming will lead High and Low Class- The creation of farming will lead to an upper and lower class in which the lower suffers to an upper and lower class in which the lower suffers and the upper succeeds. and the upper succeeds.

Conflict SolutionsConflict Solutions

• Military- Use of force to ensure Military- Use of force to ensure protection of others.protection of others.

• Government- Creates laws which helps Government- Creates laws which helps keep order, but also wages war on keep order, but also wages war on behalf of the people.behalf of the people.

• Borders- Set clear boundaries to mark Borders- Set clear boundaries to mark which group has control over certain which group has control over certain areas.areas.

Cuneiform ChallengeCuneiform Challenge• Prior to Cuneiform early humans used Prior to Cuneiform early humans used

pictographs to communicate ideas. Acting as a pictographs to communicate ideas. Acting as a bridge between the two I want you to write a bridge between the two I want you to write a story using both forms. First, I want you to draw story using both forms. First, I want you to draw your story out in pictograph form. Then using your story out in pictograph form. Then using your own made cuneiform (with a key) write the your own made cuneiform (with a key) write the words to your story.words to your story.– It could be what you did this weekend (trip, sporting event, It could be what you did this weekend (trip, sporting event,

etc.)etc.)– The process you went through this morning to get ready.The process you went through this morning to get ready.– Or make a story up as if you were a trader traveling thru Or make a story up as if you were a trader traveling thru

Mesopotamia.Mesopotamia.

Ziggurat at UrZiggurat at Ur

Temple

“Mountain of the Gods”

Temple

“Mountain of the Gods”

The Royal Standard of Ur

The Royal Standard of Ur

Mesopotamian HarpMesopotamian Harp

Board Game From UrBoard Game From Ur

Sophisticated Metallurgy Skills

at Ur

Sophisticated Metallurgy Skills

at Ur

Sargon of Akkad:The World’s First Empire

[Akkadians]

Sargon of Akkad:The World’s First Empire

[Akkadians]

The Babylonian Empires

The Babylonian Empires

Hammurabi’s [r. 1792-1750

B. C. E.] CodeHammurabi’s [r. 1792-1750

B. C. E.] Code

Hammurabi, the JudgeHammurabi, the Judge

Babylonian MathBabylonian Math

Babylonian NumbersBabylonian Numbers