1. The Fertile Crescent
Ancient Mesopotamia

5. The Fertile Crescent
Area from the Persian Gulf through the Tigris and Euphrates river valleys along the Mediterranean Sea
Area of Middle East where civilization began.
Fertile - crescent shaped land.
Large supply of sheep, goats, and wheat in the wild.
Nomads settle
City-states are formed

6. Things to Know
River valleys prime locations for cultures to develop into civilizations- good for travel, trade, and farming.
A civilization is a highly developed culture complete with religion, government, social class structure, and writing system.

7. Life in the Tigris and Euphrates River Valleys Challenges Solutions
Rivers are unpredictable
Sometimes the rivers overflow and floods destroy crops
Other times the rivers do not overflow when expected causing damage to dehydrated crops.
Build levees (dams and channels) to control floods.
Build walls,waterways and ditches to bring water to crops( irrigation)

8. Mesopotamia Eastern part of Fertile Crescent Present day - Iraq
Also known as the land between 2 rivers
1. Tigris River
2. Euphrates River

9. People of the Fertile Crescent
Sumerians
Akkadians
Babylonians
Assyrians
Hittites
Chaldeans
Persians

10. Sumer
City-states rose about 3000 B.C. between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers.
Developed a system of irrigation (bringing water to crops through a system of a waterways, walls and ditches).
Each city-state independent of one another
desire for more land
War

11. Sumerian Developments
System of writing- cuneiform-wedge shaped symbols
First people to live in a city-state
Divide the year
Divide the circle into 360 parts
Developed a 12 month calendar based on the lunar cycle
used the wheel and made vehicles
Invented the plow and the sail boat
Number system based on 60
Used geometry to measure fields and put up buildings

12. Sumerians and Religion
Belief in many gods.
Each god has powers over nature or activity.
Temple called ziggurat built to honor chief god. Large tiered structure with a shrine on the highest tier
Belief that gods speak to priests

13. Sumerian Professions Farmers Tradesmen Merchants Soldiers
Government officials
Artisans- skilled workers

14. Sumerian Social Class Structure
Upper Class-kings, priests, government officials
Middle Class- artisans, merchants, farmers, and fishers.
Slaves-criminal, pay off debt, and prisoners of war

15. The Development of Writing in Sumer
Wedge shaped symbols called cuneiform.
Used to keep track of records and business transactions.
Writing material
1. Damp clay
2. Sharp ended reed called a stylus

16. Writers and Literature in Sumer
People that keep written records are called scribes
Oldest known stories are from Sumer
-Epic of Gilgamesh

17. Akkadians Conquer Sumerian City-States
Conflicts , arguing, and wars weaken Sumerian city-states
2340 B.C. Sargon (Akkadian King) conquers and unites Mesopotamia
First empire formed - lasts for 200 years

18. Babylonians Babylon built by Euphrates River Emerged 1800s B.C.
1792 B.C. Babylonian King Hammurabi conquers Mesopotamia
Study astronomy and astrology
Horoscopes

19. Hammurabi King of Babylonians Made Babylon powerful
Best known for his laws known as the Code of Hammurabi
282 laws covering all parts of society
An eye for an eye justice

20. Code of Hammurabi

21. The Assyrians 1,000 years after Hammurabi
Need for strong army to protect lands leads to becoming conquerors
Strong -war seeking group
Lion hunters

22. Assyrian Army Strong Ferocious Organized
1. foot soldiers-daggers and spears
2.chariot riders
Soldiers on horseback

23. Assyrian Government Capital- Ninevah on Tigris River Ruled by king
Empire divided into districts called provinces

24. Assyrian Developments
Built a system of connecting roads
Created the first library-25,000 tablets
First to develop a standing army
Developed a mail service
Large temples and palaces

25. Assyrian difficulties
People treated harshly
Many Rebellions and Mercenaries hired
Downfall of Assyrians

26. The Chaladeans Control Mesopotamia from 605 B.C.-562 B.C.
Descendants of Babylonians
Rebuild Babylon
World’s largest and richest city-protected by brick wall

27. Creation of one of the seven wonders of the ancient world
Hanging Gardens of Babylon-built by King Nebuchadnezzer

28. Achievements
Sun dial
Seven day week