Do Now Get a textbook and answer question 2 on p. 28. Use both the map and picture on page 27 to describe some characteristics of this valley. Use the Do Now Log

Early Ancient Civilizations Mesopotamia and Egypt

Mesopotamia Located between Tigris + Euphrates AKA- Fertile Crescent – rich soils from rivers + Sea make this land great for farming. Picture From: p.gif

Sumer Sumer – earliest known civilization formed in southern Mesopotamia around 3500 BC Depended on rivers + rich soil. Sumerians lived in small, separate cities that developed into city-states. Sumer, Ur, and Uruk among 1 st city states.

Religion in Mesopotamia Each city-state had own god. Temple in center of city-state called, ziggurat. Sumerians – polytheistic. Picture From: y/151/images/ziggurat.jpeg

Social Strata Males head of household. Females had limited rights. Priests usually top of social hierarchy. Later, Kings become top. Kingship becomes hereditary.

So what’d they give us?! Cuneiform – first written language 12 month calendar Plow Sail Wheel Picture From: s/front.weathered.lit-cssh.jpg

Important Kings: Hammurabi! Conquered several city-states to become King. Improved canals + tax system. Changed religion so all people in kingdom worshipped God of Babylon. Also created: HAMMURABI’S CODE

Hammurabi’s Code Created laws to govern all parts of life. Two major ideas: 1. Innocent until proven guilty. 2. Guilty can be punished using “eye for an eye” idea. Picture From: s/ger-prototypes/code.gif

Hammurabi ruled for 40 years – known as “Golden Age of Babylon” Became major trade center. After his death, Mesopotamia went back to city-states. Picture From: rabi.jpg

Law 5 If a judge try a case, reach a decision, and present his judgment in writing; if later error shall appear in his decision, and it be through his own fault, then he shall pay twelve times the fine set by him in the case, and he shall be publicly removed from the judge's bench, and never again shall he sit there to render judgment. In your own words, what does this mean?

Law 6 If any one steal the property of a temple or of the court, he shall be put to death, and also the one who receives the stolen thing from him shall be put to death. In your own words, what does this mean?

Law 22 If any one is committing a robbery and is caught, then he shall be put to death.

Law 23 If the robber is not caught, then shall he who was robbed claim under oath the amount of his loss; then shall the community, and... on whose ground and territory and in whose domain it was compensate him for the goods stolen. What does this sound like?

Laws If a man has knocked out the eye of a patrician, his eye shall be knocked out. If he has broken the limb of a patrician, his limb shall be broken. If he has knocked out the eye of a plebian, or broken the limb or a patrician’s servant, he shall pay one mina of silver. If he has knocked out the eye of a patrician’s servant, or broken the limb of a patrician’s servant, he shall pay half his value. After reading this, what do you think the difference is in a patrician and a plebian and a patrician’s servant? Who is more valuable in society?

Reflection What evidence do Mesopotamians leave behind that people from the Neolithic and Paleolithic Era do not?

Do Now What factors made the Mesopotamians pessimistic?

On To Egypt!!! Centered on Nile River – rich silt deposited made good farm land. People here call area “Gift of the Nile”

King Menes Gets Hitched! Menes King of Upper Egypt – conquers Lower Egypt by marrying its princess. From here, divided into three periods: - Old Kingdom (2700 BC) - Middle Kingdom (2050 BC) - New Kingdom (1550 BC)

Pharaohs, Tombs, and Mummies, OH MY!!! Most important Egyptian = Pharaoh Served as ruler, priest, and god. Large tombs (pyramids) built for these pharaohs. Personal belongings placed in tomb for afterlife.

Giza Pyramids Picture From:

Embalming Egyptians believed the soul couldn’t live without a body in the afterlife. Priests would use embalming process to preserve and then mummify bodies. Picture From: rts/mummy/page.html

Contributions from the Egyptians Number system 365 day calendar based on Nile flooding Hieroglyphics\ Picture From: s.jpg

Reflection What factors made the Egyptians more positive?