1. Flashback! How did the Sumerians gain their wealth? What were the Sumerians' three major contributions in terms of technology? What was the social structure of Sumer?

2. Sumer

3. Why are we studying Mesopotamia & Sumer anyway? It was the beginning of River Valley Civilizations, which are civilizations that form near rivers where good farming conditions make it easy to feed large numbers of people

4. Specialization in Sumer Most people farmed Artisans were skilled workers that made pottery, metal products, or cloth. Others worked as merchants.

5. 8 Aspects of Culture Art Religion Writing Clothing Government Music Daily life Food

6. Cuneiform Writing that uses wedge- shaped characters Highly-developed system of writing Few people wrote--mostly boys from wealthy families

7. Religion in Sumer Had many gods Built ziggurats, which were temple towers with outside staircases and a shrine at the top

8. Development of City-States Geography isolated areas in Sumer Each Sumerian city became a separate city- state A city-state is an early city that was like a small, independent country with its own laws and government.

9. Government in Sumer Why would you need a government? Sumerians believed gods chose the rulers, so kings were powerful City-states attacked each other; kings led army Scribes, people who write, helped record laws

10. Empire Sumer is so successful! So, where is it today? Akkadians of northern Mesopotamia conquered Sumer King of Akkadians was named Sargon. He setup the world's first empire. Empire: group of many different lands under one ruler

11. Hammurabi In the 1800s B.C.E., the Babylonians were powerful in Mesopotamia Built city of Babylon by Euphrates River; became center of trade King Hammurabi created the Babylonian Empire Best known for his laws, called the Code of Hammurabi

12. Draw This! FairCruel