Chapter 3 : Mesopotamia and the Fertile Crescent

Early people settled where crops would grow. Chapter 3 Section 1 Early people settled where crops would grow. Crops usually grew well near rivers, where water was available and regular floods made the soil rich.

Mesopotamia means “between the rivers” Chapter 3 Section 1 The Tigris and Euphrates rivers are the most important physical features of the region sometimes known as Mesopotamia. Mesopotamia means “between the rivers” Mesopotamia is apart of the Fertile Crescent. The Fertile Crescent extends from the Persian Gulf and the Mediterranean Sea.

Floods brought silt to the land. Chapter 3 Section 1 Hunters-gatherer groups first settled in Mesopotamia more than 12,000 years ago. Floods brought silt to the land. Silt is a mixture of rich soil and tiny rocks. The fertile silt made the land ideal for farming. The first farming settlement formed in Mesopotamia about 7000 BC.

This meant that the water levels in the rivers could be to low. Chapter 3 Section 1 Farming depended on the amount of rain that was received in Eastern Asia Minor. This meant that the water levels in the rivers could be to low. If they received a lot of rain it could flood their crops.

They dugout large storage basins to hold water supplies. Chapter 3 Section 1 To solve their problems the Mesopotamians used irrigation to control the water. They dugout large storage basins to hold water supplies. Canals where dug to connect all the basins and ditches were dug to send the water to the fields.

Irrigation increased the amount of food that farmer could produce Chapter 3 Section 1 Irrigation increased the amount of food that farmer could produce Farmers started producing a surplus of food, which was more food than they needed. This also would lead to less farmers needed. As a result, new occupations developed. People became crafters, religious leaders, and government workers.

Chapter 3 Section 1 The type of arrangement in which each worker specializes in a particular task or job is called a division of labor. Having people available to work on different jobs meant that society could accomplish more. Mesopotamia needed structure and rules, this could be provided by laws and government.

Mesopotamian settlements grew in size and complexity. Chapter 3 Section 1 Mesopotamian settlements grew in size and complexity. They gradually developed into cities between 4000 and 3000 BC.

They settled in a land they called Sumer. Chapter 3 Section 2 In the southern part of Mesopotamia, a group of people known as Sumerians developed the world’s first civilization. They settled in a land they called Sumer. Most of the people in Sumer where farmers. Most lived in the rural areas. Some lived in the cities. The first cities had about 10,000 residents.

Sumer would combine the rural and urban areas to create city-states. Chapter 3 Section 2 Sumer would combine the rural and urban areas to create city-states. The amount of countryside controlled by each city-state depended on its military strength. City-states would fight each other to gain more farmland. As a result the city-states built up strong armies.

By 3500 BC, Kish had became the most powerful. Chapter 3 Section 2 Sumerians also built strong, thick walls around their cities for protection. By 3500 BC, Kish had became the most powerful. Over the next 1000 years, the city-states of Uruk and Ur fought for dominance. Uruk king Gilgamesh, became a legendary figure in Sumerian literature.

The Akkadians would develop a society just north of Sumer. Chapter 3 Section 2 The Akkadians would develop a society just north of Sumer. The Akkadians and the Sumerians lived in peace for many year. That peace was broken when Sargon the emperor of the Akkadians sought to extend their territory.

Sargon was the first ruler to have a permanent army. Chapter 3 Section 2 Sargon built a new capital, Akkad, on the Euphrates River. ( Near the city of Baghdad today) Sargon was the first ruler to have a permanent army. Sargon’s army defeated all of the city-states of Sumer. He also conquered northern Mesopotamia, bringing the entire region under his rule.

Sargon established the world’s first empire. Chapter 3 Section 2 Sargon established the world’s first empire. The Akkadian Empire stretched from the Persian Gulf to the Mediterranean Sea. Sargon ruled the empire for nearly 50 years until he died. The empire would continue for only 10 more years. The Sumerians would become the most powerful civilization once again.

Religion was very important in the Sumerian society. Chapter 3 Section 2 Religion was very important in the Sumerian society. The Sumerians practiced polytheism. Polytheism is the worship of many gods. Enlil – lord of the air Enki – god of wisdom Inanna – goddess of love and war Utu and Nanna – gods of the sun and moon

Priest would perform religious ceremonies. Chapter 3 Section 2 Priest would perform religious ceremonies. Priest had great status in Sumer. People relied on the priest to help them gain the gods’ favor.

Kings – chosen by the gods Priest Chapter 3 Section 2 Social hierarchy Kings – chosen by the gods Priest Skilled craftspeople, merchants, and traders Farmers and Laborers Slaves

Men held political power and made laws. Chapter 3 Section 2 Men held political power and made laws. Women took care of the homes and children. Education was reserved for the men, but some upper class women were educated.

Cuneiform – the world’s first system of writing Chapter 3 Section 3 Cuneiform – the world’s first system of writing They used sharp tools called styluses to make wedge-shaped symbols on clay tablets. Symbols sometimes represented syllables, or basic parts of words. Earlier written communication used pictographs, each picture represented something.

Sumerians first used cuneiform to keep business records. Chapter 3 Section 3 Sumerians first used cuneiform to keep business records. A scribe, or writer, would be hired to keep track of the items people traded. They were also used to keep government records.

Sumerian students went to school to learn to read and write. Chapter 3 Section 3 Sumerian students went to school to learn to read and write. In time, Sumerians began to write works on history, law, grammar, and math. They also began to write literature.

Chapter 3 Section 3 Some of these literature works were epics, which were long poems that tell the stories of heroes. The Epic of Gilgamesh was one of the most famous. It was a story of a Sumerian king.

One of Sumerians’ most important developments was the wheel. Chapter 3 Section 3 One of Sumerians’ most important developments was the wheel. They were the first people to build wheeled vehicles, including carts and wagons. The wheel also allowed them to start spinning clay and making pottery.

The plow was another important invention. Chapter 3 Section 3 The plow was another important invention. It made farming quicker and easier, and it also increased farming production. The Sumerians also invented a clock that used running water to measure time.

The Sumerians developed a math system based on the number 60. Chapter 3 Section 3 Sumerian advances improved daily life in many ways. They built sewers in the cities, and they learned to use bronze to make stronger tools and weapons. The Sumerians developed a math system based on the number 60. -circle is 360 degrees -12 months in a year

Chapter 3 Section 3 The Sumerians’ also made advances in medicine. They catalogued their medical knowledge, listing treatments according to symptoms and body parts. Sumerians were the first people in Mesopotamia to build large temples called ziggurats.

Sumerian sculptors created temples and statues of gods. Chapter 3 Section 3 Sumerian sculptors created temples and statues of gods. They also sculpted things out of ivory and rare woods. Jewelry was also a popular item in Sumer. Cylinder seals are perhaps Sumer’s most famous art work. They were used to mark property.

The Babylonians would rise to power shortly after the death of Sargon. Chapter 3 Section 4 The Babylonians would rise to power shortly after the death of Sargon. Babylon is present day Baghdad, Iraq. Babylon was once a Sumerian town. 1792 BC, Hammurabi became the king of Babylon.

Hammurabi was a brilliant war leader. Chapter 3 Section 4 Hammurabi was a brilliant war leader. His armies fought and won many battles, increasing his empire. All of Mesopotamia would end up apart of the Babylonian Empire. Hammurabi also governed over the empire very well. He also created a set of 282 laws called Hammurabi’s Code.

Hammurabi’s Code dealt with almost every part of daily life. Chapter 3 Section 4 Hammurabi’s Code dealt with almost every part of daily life. It contained some ideas that are still found in laws today. Specific crimes brought specific penalties. Social classes did matter when it came to being punished. Hammurabi ruled for nearly 42 years.

civilization in Asia Minor, which is current day Turkey. Chapter 3 Section 4 Hittites civilization in Asia Minor, which is current day Turkey. This was the first group to rule after Hammurabi. The Hittites were skilled in ironworking. This meant that they could make stronger weapons.

The Hittites used chariots in battle. Chapter 3 Section 4 The Hittites used chariots in battle. The Hittite rule did not last long because the king was assassinated.

1200 BC the Assyrians gain control of Babylon Chapter 3 Section 4 Assyrians 1200 BC the Assyrians gain control of Babylon The Assyrians had a strong army. They used iron weapons and chariots like the Hittites. Anyone who resisted them was killed. The Assyrian Empire was by a king and local leaders.

The Assyrians ruled from Nineveh. Chapter 3 Section 4 The Assyrians ruled from Nineveh. The king placed heavy taxes all across the empire.

A series of wars broke out in the Assyrian Empire, which weaken it. Chapter 3 Section 4 Chaldeans A series of wars broke out in the Assyrian Empire, which weaken it. The Chaldeans took advantage and attacked Nineveh destroyed the Assyrian Empire. The Chaldeans were from the Syrian Desert. Nebuchadnezzar was the most famous Chaldean king.

Nebuchadnezzar rebuilt the city of Babylon into a beautiful city. Chapter 3 Section 4 Nebuchadnezzar rebuilt the city of Babylon into a beautiful city. His palace featured the famous Hanging Gardens.

They were known as a trading society. Chapter 3 Section 4 Phoenicians Were located on the western end of the Fertile Crescent near the Mediterranean Sea. They were known as a trading society. Today Lebanon occupies most of what was once Phoenicia. They had a lot of cedar trees, it was a valuable trade item.

They became expert sailors. Chapter 3 Section 4 Land trade was blocked by the mountains, so they used the sea for trade routes. They became expert sailors. The Phoenicians found several new colonies. Carthage which was located in N. Africa along the Mediterranean Sea was the most famous of the colonies. It later became one of the most powerful cities on the Mediterranean Sea.

This made writing much easier. Chapter 3 Section 4 The Phoenicians’ most important achievement was the development of the first alphabet. This made writing much easier. The alphabet that we use for the english language is based on the Phoenician alphabet.