5.3 Stable Food Supply Complex irrigation system (levees, dams, canals) Invented the plow to prepare the land for farming. Fertile Crescent had great soil for farming. Biggest problem for farmers was the uncontrolled water supply (until they created the irrigation system).

5.4 Social Structure Upper, Common, and Slaves were the three classes. Upper class were priests, landowners, and officials. Had larger houses. Second class (common) lived in smaller mud-brick houses. Merchants, farmers, fisherman. Different levels had different jobs.

5.5 Government Gods picked the Kings, which gave them a greater sense of authority. Kings had governors to help them. King had jobs like enforcing laws, leading an army, building temples, making sure the irrigation system was maintained.

5.6 Religion Built temples and ziggurats. Sumerians believed gods lived in the ziggurats. Held religious ceremonies with music and an occasional human sacrifice.

5.7 The Arts Includes painting, music, architecture. Music was to bring joy to the people and the gods. Metalworkers made weapons, cups, and decorative items like mirrors and jewelry.

5.8 Technology Most important – the wheel! Wheels used on carts for farmers or chariots for the army. Created the arch for buildings. Added strength and beauty to buildings.

5.9 Writing Cuneiform: Latin word for “wedge.” Used a wedge-shaped stylus to etch writing into clay tablets. Developed around 2400 BCE. Had 2000 symbols but reduced to 700. Based on pictographs. Writing was done by scribes.