Early River Valley Civilizations WHI: SOL 3b Sumer Early River Valley Civilizations

Timeline Identify on your timeline the following: Sumer (3200 b.c.-1900 b.c.) Akkad (2300 b.c.-2150 b.c.) Babylon (1790 b.c.-1595 b.c.) New Babylon (626 b.c.-539 b.c.) Hittite (1650 b.c.-1200 b.c.) Assyria (1350 b.c.-609 b.c.) Israel (1000 b.c.- 586 b.c)

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On your maps, identify the following: Map B Red Sea Mediterranean Sea Black Sea Caspian Sea Persian Gulf Nile River Tigris River Euphrates River Arabian Peninsula Asia Minor Map A Egyptian Civilization Sumer/Mesopotamia Indus River Civilization Chinese Civilization

What type of area did ancient peoples often choose to settle in? Why? These river valleys offered rich soil and irrigation water for agriculture, and they tended to be in locations easily protected from invasion by nomadic peoples.

Mesopotamia means, “The land between the rivers.” Section 1 Mesopotamia means, “The land between the rivers.” Mesopotamia is formed between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers The oldest civilization was found in this region between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers in what is now Iraq. This area was part of the Fertile Crescent, a fertile arc of land from the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea, through Mesopotamia, to the Persian Gulf (Arabian Sea)

Lifestyle and Agriculture Rich soil and a lot of crops led to the development of civilization Fertile Crescent

Regions Hittites Assyria Akkad Israel Sumer City States Sumer First civilization, in S. Mesopotamia Akkad To the north Assyria Further North City States of Ancient Mesopotamia Ur, Uruk, Babylon City States A city and its surrounding territory. The cities were surrounded by great walls to offer protection. Stone was scarce, so most building were made of mud bricks. Hittites Assyria Akkad Israel Sumer Babylon Ur

Sumer (Social) Each city-state had a distinct hierarchy (system of ranking groups) Kings, royals, officials, high priests Lesser priests, artisans, scribes, merchants Peasant farmers Slaves

Sumer (Political) Ruler(king) was responsible for maintaining city walls and irrigation systems Hereditary Rule- when power passes from father to son (within one family) Led armies in war Enforced laws Collected taxes Kept records Chief servant of the gods (theocracy-blend of government and religion)

Sumer (Religious) Polytheistic- belief in many gods Belief in afterlife Ziggurat- a large stepped temple dedicated to each city-states chief god or goddess Priests performed ceremonies and processions

Sumer (Intellectual/Artistic) Cuneiform-wedge writing System of pictographs Mathematics Astronomy Epic of Gilgamesh

Sumer (Technological) Wheel Irrigation Bricks made of clay/mud Bronze Swords Plow Clothing made from flax (wool) Boats

Sumer (Economic) Farming Trading Bronze tools World’s first cities (Ur, Uruk, Babylon)