Western Asia 3500 – 500 B.C. Chapter 2 ما بين النهرين

USA Western Asia: Middle East

USA Western Asia: Middle East ASIA AFRICA

arc-shaped area from the Mediterranean Sea to the Persian Gulf: arc-shaped area from the Mediterranean Sea to the Persian Gulf: Fertile Crescent Fertile Crescent

Fertile Crescent Mediterranean Sea Persian Gulf

Mediterranean Sea Persian Gulf

“land between the rivers” “land between the rivers” M e s o p o t a m i a M e s o p o t a m i a

MESOPOTAMIA T i g r i s T i g r i s R i v e r E u p h r a t e s E u p h r a t e s R i v e r

Euphrates River Tigris River Mediterranean Sea Persian Gulf

Euphrates River Tigris River Persian Gulf

MESOPOTAMIA Modern nation of: Modern nation of: I r a q I r a q

Baghdad, Iraq

SUMERIANS Cities: Cities: Eridu, Ur, Uruk

SUMERIANS Religion: Religion: p o l y t h e i s t i c p o l y t h e i s t i c

Government: Government: t h e o c r a c y SUMERIANS

Society: noble noble commoner commoner slave slave

SUMERIANS Writing: Writing: c u n e i f o r m c u n e i f o r m

cuneiform

When heaven above was not yet named, nor earth below pronounced by name, Apsu, the first one, their begetter and maker Tiamat, who bore them all, had mixed their waters together, but had not formed pastures, nor discovered reed-beds. When yet no gods were manifest, nor names pronounced, nor destinies decreed, then gods were born within them.

Sumerian Art: ziggurat

ziggurat

sundial

arch

dome

bronze

wagon wheel potter’s wheel

Number system based on 60

SUMERIAN ART ziggurat ziggurat sundial sundial arch arch dome dome bronze bronze The Epic of Gilgamesh The Epic of Gilgamesh wagon wheel wagon wheel potter’s wheel potter’s wheel number system based on 60 number system based on 60