1. Early River Valley Civilizations
City-States in Mesopotamia
Goals:
1. Explain the role of the environment in the Mesopotamian culture.
2. Analyze the types of government found in Early Mesopotamia.
3. Describe several aspects of Sumerian culture.
4. Explain the rise of empires in Mesopotamia.

2. Geography of The Fertile Crescent
People first settled there c B.C.
Sumerian culture developed c B. C.

3. Tigris and Euphrates Rivers
The T & E rivers would flood every year and then recede leaving behind nutrient rich mud called “silt”, which was excellent for growing crops.

4. Challenges of Mesopotamia
The good soil was an advantage but, the environment also brought disadvantages
Flooding = every year, but was unpredictable - could flood houses and destroy crops
Periods of drought – could lower food production
No natural barriers = little protection from other people
Few natural resources = trees were small, no big rock quarries, few deposits of metal

5. Solutions Irrigation ditches provided reliable water for crops
Sumerians built city walls out of sun-dried bricks
Sumerians traded extra food, cloth and pottery for wood, metal and gemstones
Organizing an irrigation system
Production of bricks
Construction of the wall
System of trade
Co-operation
Leadership
Organized Government

6. Uruk Lagash Kish Umma Ur
Sumerian City-States
City and the surrounding area under its control with its own independent government – sometimes city- states can have a common culture
Sumer = 5 city states
Uruk Lagash Kish Umma Ur

7. Early Gov’t
Temple Priests / Religion were the center of Gov’t -Farmers and Merchants would plead w/ gods for success: Priests were the go-betweens = power -Ziggurats acted as a city hall where people would come for advice, direction and rituals - Priests would manage irrigation projects, settle disputes and collect taxes

8. Rise of Military / Dynasties
C B.C.
Priests in charge was good except during times of War Then the men of the city would choose the best warrior to lead the army – War over the army would disband and go home C B.C. wars became more frequent & armies became permanent Military leaders became more powerful and became rulers Eventually, the rulers would pass power onto their sons By 2500 B.C. most Sumerian cities were Dynasties (where consecutive rulers are from the same family)

9. Religion: Sumerian Culture
Polytheism – poly = many, theo = god belief in many gods
Sumerian gods = like people, fell in love, argued, had kids etc. but also immortal and powerful
Angry gods = floods at bad times, fires, or enemy attack
People sacrificed animals, food and wine to keep gods 
Afterlife = no heaven or eternal reward, only a dark, dismal “Land of No Return”
Religion and Mythology in an epic poem “Gilgamesh”

10. Gilgamesh
-Cruel, powerful king of ancient Sumer, main character in a poem centered around his quest for immortality

11. Sumerian Science and Technology
Believed to have invented: plow, sails, wheels and bronze Developed arithmetic with base of 60, 360* = Our system of time - 60 sec. = 1 min., 60 min. = 1 hr. Had a basic system of Geometry Architecture – Arches, columns, ramps and Ziggurat Cuneiform maps c B.C. Tablets show evidence of astronomy, chemistry and medicine

12. Empires
when several peoples, nations or city-states are brought together under the power of one ruler
Slowly city-states conquered by stronger leaders who adopted Sumerian culture
Sargon of Akkad – c B.C. His dynasty controlled Mesopotamia for 200 yrs
Babylonian Empire – c B.C. nomadic warriors who made their capital Babylon – Hammurabi was their most successful ruler

13. -System of laws set by Hammurabi a Babylonian King,
Hammurabi’s Code
-System of laws set by Hammurabi a Babylonian King,
He had it engraved in stone and posted around his
empire.
282 specific laws with punishments listed
-covered family relations, property rights, business conduct and crimes
-sought to protect women and children
-different punishments for poor and rich,
men and women