River Valleys Unit Mesopotamia Civilization Emerges along the Tigris and Euphrates Valleys

Mesopotamia: the Land between the rivers Continent: Continent: Asia Asia Rivers: Rivers: Tigris, Tigris, Euphrates EuphratesTime: 3000 to 3000 to 1500 BC

Mesopotamia: the Land Two rivers: Tigris and Euphrates Two rivers: Tigris and Euphrates Brought water for farming Brought water for farming Brought floods Brought floods Lots of damage Lots of damage Not on a schedule, unpredictable Not on a schedule, unpredictable Flat land, no natural protection Flat land, no natural protection Many invaders Many invaders Therefore, people were fearful Therefore, people were fearful

A government is needed for the many people Governments created for each city Governments created for each city Called CITY-STATES Called CITY-STATES The city + the land around it The city + the land around it Ruled by a king Ruled by a king Priests, religious leaders, had important job: keep the gods happy and prevent floods Priests, religious leaders, had important job: keep the gods happy and prevent floods By 2300 BC, Sargon, the king of the city of Akkad, had united all of the city-states into an Empire under his control By 2300 BC, Sargon, the king of the city of Akkad, had united all of the city-states into an Empire under his control

Sargon and his Empire

Mesopotamia’s Religion Polytheistic Polytheistic “poly” = many “poly” = many “theis” = gods “theis” = gods They believed in many gods They believed in many gods They feared their gods They feared their gods Wanted the gods to stop the floods Wanted the gods to stop the floods They built ZIGGURATS They built ZIGGURATS to worship their gods to worship their gods

Mesopotamia’s Accomplishments World’s 1 st Writing System World’s 1 st Writing System Cuneiform Cuneiform Used a stylus Used a stylus Wrote on wet clay tablets, which were then dried Wrote on wet clay tablets, which were then dried Men who did the writing were called scribes Men who did the writing were called scribes

Mesopotamia’s Accomplishments Architecture What kinds of buildings do you see? How do you know who is poor? What was built for protection?

Mesopotamia’s Accomplishments World’s first literature, written stories World’s first literature, written stories EPIC EPIC A VERY, VERY long poem A VERY, VERY long poem Title was GILGAMESH Title was GILGAMESH Story of a hero who wants to be like the gods and live forever Story of a hero who wants to be like the gods and live forever The gods tell him NO! He must die because he is not allowed to live forever The gods tell him NO! He must die because he is not allowed to live forever

Mesopotamia’s Accomplishments Mathematics Mathematics Measured and divided Measured and divided circle into 360 degrees circle into 360 degrees Divided time into hours and minutes, each with 60 parts Divided time into hours and minutes, each with 60 parts

Mesopotamia’s Accomplishments Inventions Inventions Plow Plow 4 wheeled wagon 4 wheeled wagon Irrigation systems Irrigation systems

Mesopotamia’s Accomplishments Astronomy, knowledge of the moon, planets, stars Astronomy, knowledge of the moon, planets, stars Developed calendar Developed calendar Gave the planets names as gods Gave the planets names as gods

Mesopotamia’s Accomplishments

Mesopotamia’s Accomplishments Magnificent objects of Gold ID=5711