1. Early River Civilizations Mesopotamia and the Sumerians
World History
Pullen

2. Mesopotamia- The land between the rivers
The Tigris – Euphrates Rivers form the Fertile Crescent
Silt
Good weather
Flood unpredictably
The Zagros and Taurus Mountains, Syrian Desert
Natural barriers to keep out intruders
modern day Iraq, parts of Turkey, and parts of Syria

4. Mesopotamia- Map

5. Mesopotamia: Sumer Sumer included the cities of Ur and Kish
The city state of Sumer grew as more people began to settle in the fertile areas.
Population grew along the rivers.
The growth of the population encouraged new technology:
Irrigation
Development of artificial lakes and ponds
Why?!?

6. Irrigation
Irrigation is the method of getting water to specific areas of farmland through drainage pipes or ditches.
An irrigated field:

7. Early Governments No boundaries. Each city is independent.
Early government ruled by priests
leaders in charge of irrigation systems of canals as well as work crews, appointed inspectors, and settled arguments.
Surplus of grain kept in temples.
Collection of taxes - grain, animals, farm products.
Prayed, made sacrifices to please the gods.
Spent lives serving the gods.

8. Record Keeping
Record keeping is needed when government, religion, and economy become more complex.
Scribes: professional record keepers
Cuneiform: Sumerian writing with a wedged stick and clay tablet

10. Sumerian Contributions: The first kings
Eventually military leaders became kings. Why?
Conflict was over land boundaries and use of water.
Defended the cities against invaders
Managed irrigation works, surplus grain, chief judge in all arguments.
Kingship came down from heaven.
Dynasty: A series of rulers from the same family

12. Sumerian Contributions: Religion
Polytheism: Many gods
controlled everything
immortal and all powerful.
Gods would protect or destroy

13. Four (4) important Gods:
An: Father of all gods, God of the sky
Enlil: God of the air. Gave kings their power
Enki: God of the water. Ruled city of Eridu
Ninhursag: Mother goddess
Nonna: Moon God. Ruled Ur
Others: sun God goddess of love and war
Each city had its own god. Why?

15. People of Sumeria
Social Classes (3)
Highest class included: King, government officials, priests, wealthy merchants and landowners
Middle class included: Farmers, fishermen, artisans
Lowest class included: slaves, prisoners, people who did not own land and children
Women had some freedom of job choice and could hold property
Why do most civilizations (even our own) have social classes?

16. Mesopotamia: Division of Labor and Economy
Everyone had a job in Sumeria
Examples: bricklayers, canal builders, butchers, artists
Barter!
Barter is the exchange of surplus food items for materials that are needed.
Why don’t we use barter today?

17. Hammurabi Created a written law code Unified the empire
282 specific laws
Family relations, business conduct, and crimes
Different punishments for rich and poor
Government has a responsibility to organize society
Why was it important that the law code be written down?