RIVER VALLEY CIVILIZATIONS FERTILE CRESCENT MESOPOTAMIA

Agricultural surplus led to the emergence of civilization Rise of cities Art & Architecture Government Monarchy Oligarchy Democracy Religion Polytheism Monotheism Animism Writing Social Structure Social Classes

This is what we call areas where people settled and built 1st farming communities Most were in river valleys. The first was Mesopotamia between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers.

Some Vocab (Make a section) Monarchy- rule by a Queen or King, passed through the family Oligarchy- rule by a small group people Democracy- rule by the people Animism- belief that everything has a spirit Polytheism- belief in more than one god Monotheism- belief in a single god

Why did they settle there? Food Protection Water Fertilization Irrigation Transportation

5000 BCE the first Civilization The Sumerians TIGRIS MESOPOTAMIA EUPHRATES 5000 BCE the first Civilization The Sumerians SUMER

1.Unpredictable flooding 1.Irrigation Systems Sumerian Problems Sumerian Solutions 1.Unpredictable flooding 1.Irrigation Systems 2.City Walls made of sun-dried bricks 2.Little protection 3.Limited Natural Resources 3.Trade for products they lacked

Sumerian Culture Government Sumerians invented the city- state Each one shared language, religion, and customs, but governed independently Uruk, Kish, Lagash, Umma, Ur Most were ruled by kings and their family line = Dynasty

Religion Sumerians were Polytheistic = Many gods Sumerians had large temples dedicated to their gods at the center of each city-state = ziggurats Sumerians believed their gods were human- like, yet immortal and all powerful They also believed their gods to be mean and spiteful, and the afterlife to be cold and alone

ZIGGURAT

TECHNOLOGY Sumerians invented = the wheel, the sail, the plow, 1st to use Bronze, 1st writing system (cuneiform), 1st book “Epic of Gilgamesh” (2150 BCE) 1st Maps, sun-dial, umbrella, 1st # system, 60 minute hour, 60 second minute.

CUNEIFORM

CUNEIFORM

Cuneiform was created using a small wedge-shaped tools to create these marks Examples

AKKAD SUMER

Around 2334 B.C.E, Sargon, leader of the Akkadians established the first Empire. Sargon was the first Empire builder. An EMPIRE is a large political unit, or state with a single leader. By 2100 the Akkadian Empire fell after a series of battles Babylonians invade and conquer all of Mesopotamia

BABYLON

This is called HAMMURABI’S CODE, or the Code of Hammurabi. 1792 BCE a new empire arose in Mesopotamia The city-state of Babylon rose to power led by king Hammurabi. His Empire fell shortly after his death in 1750 BCE, but Hammurabi made significant contributions before his death. Hammurabi codified (collected) the 1st written laws and put them for all to see. This is called HAMMURABI’S CODE, or the Code of Hammurabi. “An Eye for an Eye”

Hittites (1700-1200 BCE) Lived on Anatolia Peninsula 1st Ironworkers (smelting) very successful due to use of compound bow, war chariots, and iron weapons

Assyrians (1400-612 BCE) Military Supremacy through the use of siege weapons brutal use of torture

Chaldeans (605-539 BCE) Nebuchadnezzar II- leads Babylon to its greatest period creates the Hanging Gardens, the Ishtar Gate, and 56 mile long walls around the city wide enough to race chariots on top