mesopotamia ©copyright 2006 mrs. kelly stevens & mrs. paulette ingram
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Mesopotamia In Greek it means “land between two rivers” (Tigris & Euphrates Rivers)TRANSCRIPT
Mesopotamia©Copyright 2006
Mrs. Kelly Stevens & Mrs. Paulette Ingram
Fertile Crescent• Area of land located in Modern day
Turkey, Iraq, and NE Syria• Melting snow picks up tons of topsoil from
the mountains and rushes it downstream• Silt – the layer of rich deposited topsoil
Mesopotamia• In Greek it means “land between
two rivers” (Tigris & Euphrates Rivers)
Mesopotamia• Physical Geography
• Dry climate with unpredictable rain & flooding• Area of large dry mud flats, stagnant pools, and reed
swamps• NO building materials or wood• Area offered soil & water
Sumer (3500-1759 BCE)• People who lived there were called
Sumerians• Settled along the Euphrates River• Farming Community• Worshipped many gods (polytheism)
Ziggurat• Giant brick building in the center of the
city to honor the main God/Goddess of the city
• Temple was encircled with staircases or ramps
• Hebrew for “Holy Mountain”
Housing in Sumer
2 Story HomesPriests, Merchants
1 Story HomesShopkeepers,
Craftsman
Small Homes
Farmers & Fisherman
ZigguratMultiple Layers
WALL
Farmland
Social Classes
HighKings, Priests,
and Wealthy property owners
MiddleSkilled workers, Merchants, Farmers
LowSlaves, Indentured Slaves
Workers of the community who were slightly protected
by the laws
Had the most rights and privileges and protected the
most by the laws
Had the least amount of rights and protection from
the laws
Sumer Government
Sumer Government
Priest Warriors became Kings
Political and MilitaryReligious & Economic
Sumerian Accomplishments…• Writing
• Invented Cuneiform• Only a select few learned to read & write• Kept records• This marked the beginning of human history
• Arithmetic• Units of 10 and 60• Hour, minute, and second• Degrees of a circle 360• Dozen• Units of measure and weight• Geometry in building• Twelve month calendar
• Based on lunar cycle• Fixed religious festivals• Fixed agricultural activities
Sumerian Accomplishments…• Religion
• Polytheism (belief in many Gods/Goddesses)• Myths – stories that told about the Gods/Goddesses
• Agriculture• Plow• Wheeled cart• Bronze tools