1. *******Essay due Wednesday 9/28******
9/23 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.
Important Terms
Cultural Diffusion, City-State
Do Now
Identify two characteristics of a civilization?
*******Essay due Wednesday 9/28******

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

3. Mesopotamian Civilizations
Sumer and Babylon

4. Mesopotamia Fertile Crescent “The Land between the Two Rivers”
Tigris and Euphrates Rivers
Fertile farmland from silt left by floods
Floods unpredictable
Lack of natural barriers allowed frequent migrations of people and invasions
Cultural diffusion
the exchange of ideas, customs, and goods between cultures

5. Sumer The first civilization to develop in Mesopotamia 5,500 B.C.E
City-States along the Tigris and Euphrates rivers
An independent political unit with its own government
Ur, Uruk, Kish, Lagesh
protected by defensive walls

6. Sumer Ziggurats were found at the center of each city
A large, tiered, structure
Built for the god or goddess of each city

8. Religion Were polytheistic
Believed 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

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

10. *******Essay due Wednesday 9/28******
9/26 Focus:
The first known civilization arose in Mesopotamia, and its culture and innovations influenced later civilizations in the region for thousands of years.
Important Terms
Cuneiform
Do Now
Describe the impact that a lack of natural barriers had on Mesopotamia.
*******Essay due Wednesday 9/28******

11. Trade Traded with people across Southwest Asia
Cultural diffusion
Lacked many natural resources
Traded for timber, stone, metals

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

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

15. Closure Explain how the Sumerians viewed their gods.
What geographic characteristics of Mesopotamia encouraged cultural diffusion?