9/19 Focus: – Early civilizations developed in Mesopotamia between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers – There were few natural barriers in this region which made it a crossroads where people shared customs and ideas. Do Now – What are the characteristics of a civilization?

Civilization Cities & Government Religion Social Classes Writing & Record Keeping Arts Architecture Specialization Of Labor Public Works

Mesopotamian Civilizations Sumer and Babylon

Mesopotamia Fertile Crescent “The Land between the Two Rivers” – Tigris and Euphrates Rivers – Fertile farmland from silt left by floods – Floods were unpredictable Lack of natural barriers allowed frequent migrations of people and invasions – Cultural diffusion First civilizations are thought to have developed here

Sumer The first civilization to develop in Mesopotamia about 5,500 B.C.E City-States developed along the Tigris and Euphrates rivers – An independent political unit with its own government Ur, Uruk, Kish, Lagesh – Used mud bricks due to lack of other building materials Cities were protected by defensive walls Ziggurats were found at the center of each city – A large, tiered, pyramid shaped structure – Built for the god or goddess of each city

Religion Were polytheistic – Enlil, the god of air and storms, was one of the most important – Gods controlled natural events Viewed their gods as hostile and unpredictable – Similar to their environment Priests held high status in Sumer – Worked to keep the gods pleased

Government War chiefs often became Kings Kings performed rituals to please the gods Dynasties developed – A series of rulers from one family

Trade Traded with people across Southwest Asia – Lacked many natural resources – Traded for timber, stone, metals

Writing Cuneiform – Form of writing that used sharp tools to make wedge shaped symbols on clay tablets – Scribes were paid and had a high place in society

Literature The Gilgamesh Epic – One of the oldest surviving works of literature – 4,000 year old story of a Sumerian hero who seeks immortality – Originally a story that was passed on through oral tradition

Babylon

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