1. The Cradle of Civilization
Mesopotamia
The Cradle of Civilization

2. Objectives Objectives 1.Students will be able to identify:
What “Mesopotamia” means.
The location of Mesopotamia.
The names of the two rivers.
Sumerians as the first civilization.
2.Identify key terms: city-state, ziggurat, polytheism, theocracy, cuneiform and scribe.
3.Be able to read and understand a social structure chart.
4.Identify the accomplishments of the Sumerians.
A WOMAN’S ROYAL HEADDRESS FROM THE ROYAL CXEMETERY AT Ur in lower Iraq. The sophisticated craftsmanship shown here demonstrates the technical accomplishments of the ancient Sumerian civilization, centered in the Tig. And Eup.

3. Archaeologist Sir Leonard Woolley.
Mesopotamia
Mesopotamia
The Cradle of Civilization
Archaeologist Sir Leonard Woolley.
Mesopotamia – Called the “Fertile Crescent,” this was the first agrarian civilization in the world.

4. “The land between two rivers.”
Mesopotamia
Mesopotamia
Mesopotamia – the “Land between two rivers.” The land between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. (Modern day Iraq).
“The land between two rivers.”

5. The Fertile Crescent
The Fertile Crescent

6. How many civilizations controlled the Mesopotamian region?
Timeline - Mesopotamia
Timeline - Mesopotamia
Sumer
Akkad
Babylon
Assyria
Chaldean Babylon
Persia
3000 BC
2340 – 2100 BC BC
900 BC – 600 BC
600 – 539 BC
559 – 330 BC
How many civilizations controlled the Mesopotamian region?

7. Empires in Mesopotamia fought for control over the land and water.
Civilizations in Mesopotamia
Civilizations in Mesopotamia
Empires in Mesopotamia fought for control over the land and water.
Civilizations in the region - Sumerians, Akkadians, Babylonians, Assyrians, and Persians. (Sumerian army pictured above).
Sumerian Army above
No natural barriers means that they are in a constant state of warfare.

8. Sumer - the 1st Civilization Sumer - the 1st Civilization
826

9. Above: Archaeologists Sir Charles Leonard Woolley
Sumer - the 1st Civilization
Sumer - the 1st Civilization
Dates back to 3,000 BC. Oldest of the civilizations.
Key cities were Ur, Eridu, and Uruk.
Cities formed city-states that acted like an independent nation.
Above: Archaeologists Sir Charles Leonard Woolley

10. Sumer - the 1st Civilization Sumer - the 1st Civilization
837

11. Capital city in the East and sun-dried bricks.
Sumer - City of Eridu
Sumer - City of Eridu
Each City-state -surrounded by walls. Defense towers posted every ft.
Sun-dried bricks used to form buildings and houses.
There were no natural barriers to protect the people in this region from invasion. Cultural diffusion was huge, especially in a large city like Babylon. Many times as one area was conquered, they simply assimilated the culture and added to it.
Capital city in the East and sun-dried bricks.

12. Floods of the Tigris and Euphrates were unpredictable.
Geographic Factors
Geographic Factors
Vicious weather patterns- floods, heavy rain, scorching winds, famine and drought.
Floods of the Tigris and Euphrates were unpredictable.
Sites from Ancient Ur

13. Sumerian farmers irrigate and work the fields.
Technology and a Farming Revolution
Technology and a Farming Revolution
Early civilizations will create irrigation and drainage ditches.
Serious efforts to control the flow of the rivers.
Enables them to grow crops regularly.
These photos are from the British Museum’s web page.
Sumerian farmers irrigate and work the fields.

14. Sumerian farmer and tradesman on a raft.
Sumer's Economy
Sumer's Economy
Economy was primarily based on farming.
Trade and Industry – imported copper, tin, and timber. Exported fish, wool, barley and wheat.
Traded by land and sea.
Sumerian farmer and tradesman on a raft.

15. Statues of worshippers.
Sumerian Religions
Sumerian Religions
Polytheistic – the belief in many gods.
Priests and priestesses were powerful and may have been the 1st rulers.
Gods owned the cities. Over 3,000 gods.
Gods were capricious. The world was controlled by the gods, while people were made to obey and serve the gods. Humans were inferior. The gods and goddesses were all powerful. The Underworld was gloomy and considered the “Land of no return.”
Statues of worshippers.

16. Sumerian Religions Sumerian Religions
In Sumerian religions, the gods created man to serve him and work the fields.

17. Believed the gods ruled the cities.
Sumerian Religions
Sumerian Religions
Believed the gods ruled the cities.
Theocracy – a government by divine authority. (Rule by god).
Left-Marduk, the god of the city of Babylon.

18. Sumerian Religions Sumerian Religions Their religion was very gloomy.
The gods were unpredictable, like their weather.
Upon death, they would go to a terrible underworld or “land of no return.”
Image of Lilitu or the first wife of Adam. Courtesy of Wikipedia Commons.

19. Sumerian Ziggurats Sumerian Ziggurats
Ziggurat – temple set atop a stepped tower.
Temple was the center of the city and its economic and political life.
This was the most important building in the city.
The Ziggurat or Temple of Ur in Ancient Sumer.
This temple was the central focus of life in the city of Ur.

20. Sumerian Ziggurats Sumerian Ziggurats
Above: Artist’s rendering of the city of Ur. In the background, you can see the temple or ziggurat. Courtesy of Wikipedia Commons.

21. Check for Understanding Check for Understanding
What does Mesopotamia mean?
Name the two rivers that encircle Mesopotamia.
How did most men earn a living in Sumer?
Where did the people of Sumer worship?
What is polytheism?

22. Slaves – work on buildings, grind grain, weave cloth.
Sumerian Social Structure
Sumerian Social Structure
Nobles and Slaves make up less than 10% of the total pop.
Royals and Priests – Officials and Families.
King
Nobles
90% - Temple officials, Farmers, merchants, craftsmen and fishermen.
Commoners
Slaves – work on buildings, grind grain, weave cloth.
Slaves

23. Sumerian Kings Sumerian Kings Kings were divine. Led armies.
Oversaw the building of public works and structures.
Organized irrigation projects.
Picture: Standard of Ur Chariots. Courtesy of Wikipedia Commons
Lived in the palace with their wives and children. This social group represented less than 10% of the entire population.

24. Statue of a priest of Sumer.
Sumerian Priests
Sumerian Priests
Priests kept calendars, time, and reported on harvesting and planting.
Scribes wrote careful records of natural events on the earth and in the skies.
Statue of a priest of Sumer.

25. Sumerian Scribes Sumerian Scribes
Men who recorded all aspects of Sumerian life.
Educated, copyists, teachers and jurists.
Upper class, successful, leaders of cities, temples and armies.
Scribes held the most important positions in society. They were used mostly for record keeping. They also trained and schooled other men who wished to become scribes. They were to keep records and pass on knowledge to future generations. This was a very tough assignment. If scribes made mistakes, they were caned or beaten by their masters. Their ability to memorize and duplicate must have been tremendous.
Sumerian scribe above.

26. Wedge-shaped Sumerian writing or cuneiform above.
1st written language was the wedge-shaped writing of the Sumerians called cuneiform.
Scribes wrote on clay tablets with a reed stylus.
This tablet contains calculations of the area of fields from the town of Lagash.
Wedge-shaped Sumerian writing or cuneiform above.

27. Shelves of a tablet library in Babylon.
Sumerian Writings
Sumerian Writings
Shelves of a tablet library in Babylon.

28. Sumerian Writings Sumerian Writings Epic of Gilgamesh – 1st Epic poem.
Oldest poem in the history of the world.
Sumerian tales about a hero named Gilgamesh.

29. Sumerian Achievements Sumerian Achievements
836

30. Sumerian Achievements Sumerian Achievements
1st system of writing – cuneiform.
Invented the wagon wheel.
Invented the potter’s wheel.
1st to make copper tools.
The plow and complex forms of irrigation are also considered firsts. They were also the first to create a city-state.

31. Sumerian Achievements Sumerian Achievements
Sundial to keep time.
Astronomy –chart constellations.
Math – number system based on 60. (60 minute hour).

32. Geometry – measure fields and plan buildings.
Sumerian Achievements
Sumerian Achievements
Geometry – measure fields and plan buildings.
Designed the arch and the dome.
Ishtar Gate

33. Check for Understanding Check for Understanding
What was the writing style of the Sumerians called?
What is the oldest Epic poem in the history of the world?
Who invented the wheel?
What was a scribe?
The Sumerians were the first to accomplish many things. Name two.