Day 8: Mesopotamia, Fertile Crescent Unit 2 Day 8: Mesopotamia, Fertile Crescent

River Civilizations Map Identify the following ‘first civilizations’ on your map Mesopotamia Egypt India China Which is the oldest civilization? Why did these civs develop in these specific areas? When did these civilizations begin? (years)

Geography Fertile Crescent Region of land in S/W Asia, curves between Mediterranean Sea and Persian Gulf Fertile, rich soil found between Tigris and Euphrates “Mesopotamia” mean ‘between the rivers’ in Greek 5500 BC, people were farming in area Grew wheat, barley Region received little rain, and faced floods when it did Methods to control water: irrigation

Sumer Large cities around 3000 BC Structures made of mud bricks Center of city = pyramid temple called a ziggurat Over time, each city controlled surrounding land Called a city-state (political unit) Each formed own gov’t and fought over land/water Religion/Government Polytheism (worship many gods) Each city-state protected by a god War chiefs ruled as kings Kings formed dynasties

Sumerian Culture Writing Cuneiform Epic of Gilgamesh Math/Science Math system based on # 60 (this is where our hr comes from) Geometry used for building/irrigation systems—sewers! Invented wheel (pottery/vehicles), plow, and used bronze, had medical knowledge (surgery!) Trade Did not have trees, metal, so they traded for them Social structure: hierarchy Men in politics, women at home mostly

Empires in Mesopotamia Sargon I (from Akkad), 2330 BC 1st ruler to create permanent army Conquered Sumer and northern Mesopotamia, adopt culture Empire lasted 140 years, helped spread Sumerian culture Babylonian Empire (1792 BC) King Hammurabi—battles, schools, trade, culture Hammurabi’s Code—1st codified laws (written down)

More Mesopotamian Empires Hittite (Nomadic warriors, 1595 BC) Sacked Babylon, after Hammurabi’s death Used cuneiform and law code First people in region to master ironworking Strong force until 1200 BC Assyrians (900 BC) Empire included Meso, Asia Minor, and Egypt Powerful military Chariots, cavalry, iron weapons, siege warfare, battering rams Roads connected empire Library in Nineveh (over 200,000 cuneiform tablets)

More Meso Empires Chaldeans (612 BC) New Babylon Empire, led by Nebuchadnezzar II Fought Jews, Egyptians, captured Jerusalem Hanging Gardens Calendar based on phases of moon Defeated by Persians in 539 BC Phoenicians (strongest at 800 BC) Small empire, wealthy trading society Farming difficult, resources limited Became expert sailors, colonies along trade routes Alphabet, more flexible than cuneiform (22 letters, consonants)

Phoenician Alphabet

Crash Course: Mesopotamia https://youtu.be/sohXPx_XZ6Y