Download presentation
Presentation is loading. Please wait.
Published byTamsin Baker Modified over 9 years ago
1
The First Civilizations:
2
The Fertile Crescent:
3
Land Between Two Rivers In what is now Iraq, two rivers offered fertile soil, good for farming. The land between the Tigris & Euphrates rivers is known as the Fertile Crescent, this is where the first human civilizations began to flourish. The Greeks called this area Mesopotamia, or land “between the rivers”. Page 37 In what is now Iraq, two rivers offered fertile soil, good for farming. The land between the Tigris & Euphrates rivers is known as the Fertile Crescent, this is where the first human civilizations began to flourish. The Greeks called this area Mesopotamia, or land “between the rivers”. Page 37
4
Rivers of Life The Tigris & Euphrates often overflowed, when snow on mountains to the north melted--providing silt to fertilize the soil-- but these floods were unpredictable. Large-scale farming worked, only after irrigation and drainage ditches made it possible to control the floods. The ability to grow large amounts of food made the emergence of civilization in Mesopotamia possible. Pages 37-38 The Tigris & Euphrates often overflowed, when snow on mountains to the north melted--providing silt to fertilize the soil-- but these floods were unpredictable. Large-scale farming worked, only after irrigation and drainage ditches made it possible to control the floods. The ability to grow large amounts of food made the emergence of civilization in Mesopotamia possible. Pages 37-38
6
Peoples of Mesopotamia Mesopotamia was not a united kingdom, people or culture, but included three different areas: Assyria Akkad Sumer Sumerians were the first Mesopotamian people to flourish. Page 38
7
City-States of Mesopotamia Nobody knows where the Sumerians came from, but by 3000 B.C. many independent cities popped up around southern Mesopotamia, including: Ur Eridu Uruk Each Sumerian city was its own separate kingdom, with unique laws and traditions. City-States were the basic unit of Sumerian civilization Page 38 Nobody knows where the Sumerians came from, but by 3000 B.C. many independent cities popped up around southern Mesopotamia, including: Ur Eridu Uruk Each Sumerian city was its own separate kingdom, with unique laws and traditions. City-States were the basic unit of Sumerian civilization Page 38
8
Right: The lands of Mesopotamia as they were in 2500 B.C.; including Akkad, Sumer and Assyria (Assur) Left: The Fertile Crescent with red lines indicating the boarders of today’s nations of Iraq, Jordan, Israel, Syria, Lebanon, Turkey and Iran
9
The Sumerians
10
Sumerian Cities Cities in Sumer were surrounded by walls Walls and buildings were built of sun-dried bricks and mud Sumerian contributions to architecture include arches and domes. Page 39 Cities in Sumer were surrounded by walls Walls and buildings were built of sun-dried bricks and mud Sumerian contributions to architecture include arches and domes. Page 39
11
Sumerian Religion Page 39 Sumerians were polytheistic, meaning they believed in many gods and goddesses Sumerian cities were believed to belong to the favorite god of the people living there Temples, were the most prominent buildings in these cities, and were placed atop massive towers called a ziggurat Sumerians were polytheistic, meaning they believed in many gods and goddesses Sumerian cities were believed to belong to the favorite god of the people living there Temples, were the most prominent buildings in these cities, and were placed atop massive towers called a ziggurat
12
Religion & Government Sumerians not only believed cities belonged to a god, but the gods were thought to govern city-states by divine authority--this form of rule is known as theocracy Sumerians believed their kings’ authority came straight from the gods Rich people built elaborate temples and houses for the city priests and priestesses Page 39 Sumerians not only believed cities belonged to a god, but the gods were thought to govern city-states by divine authority--this form of rule is known as theocracy Sumerians believed their kings’ authority came straight from the gods Rich people built elaborate temples and houses for the city priests and priestesses Page 39
13
Sumerian Economy & Society Page 40 Sumerian economies were based mostly on farming, but trade and industry were also important. Sumerian traded their metal work, woolen textiles, food stuffs and pottery in exchange for timber, copper and tin. Society was divided into three groups: nobles, commoners and slaves Page 40 Sumerian economies were based mostly on farming, but trade and industry were also important. Sumerian traded their metal work, woolen textiles, food stuffs and pottery in exchange for timber, copper and tin. Society was divided into three groups: nobles, commoners and slaves
14
World Changer: The Written Word Around 3000 B.C. the Sumerians created a system of writing Cuneiform, was a style of writing words, using a reed stylus to leave impressions on wet clay tablets left in the sun to dry The dry tablets lasted a very long time Around 3000 B.C. the Sumerians created a system of writing Cuneiform, was a style of writing words, using a reed stylus to leave impressions on wet clay tablets left in the sun to dry The dry tablets lasted a very long time
Similar presentations
© 2024 SlidePlayer.com Inc.
All rights reserved.