monday, sept. 14 objectives: 6.9 explain the development of city-states 1. read chapter 4. 1 and...
TRANSCRIPT
Monday, Sept. 14Objectives: 6.9 explain the development of city-states
1. Read Chapter 4. 1 and work on 4.1 Onsheet quietly. 2. Wait for further instructions.1. Read Chapter 4. 1 and work on 4.1 Onsheet quietly. 2. Wait for further instructions.
Chapter 4.1
THE SUMERIANS
Sumerian city-states
Ur = an important Sumerian city-state
Sumer’s cities were surrounded by mudflats and patches of scorching desert. The harsh landscape made it hard to travel by land and communicate with other groups. The meant that each city was largely cut off from its neighbors.
As a result, Sumerian cities became independent. The people of each city raised their own crops and made their own goods. As the cities grew, they gained political and economic control over the lands around them. By doing this, they formed city-states. Each city-state had its own government and was not part of any larger governing state.
Historians think that each Sumerian city-state was protected by a large city wall. Ruins and artifacts have been found by archaeologists that support this theory. Because stone and wood were in short supply, the Sumerians used mud from the rivers as their main building material. They mixed mud with crushed reeds, formed bricks, and left them in the sun to dry. The gates of the wall stayed open during the day but were closed at night for protection. The ruler’s palace, a large temple, and other public buildings were located in the center of the city.
Often, these city-states went to war with one another over resources and political borders. The fought to win glory or to gain more territory. During times of peace, city-states traded with each other and helped each other by forming alliances to protect their common interests.
1. FILL IN THE 4.1 ONESHEET WEB
The First Civilizations in Mesopotamia
Developed in 3000 B.C.
The Two Rivers Mesopotamia earliest civilizations
Developed in southern Iraq
Mesopotamia means land between the rivers
Developed between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers
Fertile Crescent Mesopotamia was located in Fertile Crescent
Extends from Mediterranean Sea to Persian Gulf
Includes Turkey, Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, Israel, and Jordan
Early Valley Dwellers People first settled about 7000 B.C.
◦ They were hunters and herders◦ By 4000 B.C. farming villages develop
Taming the Rivers Farmers used water from rivers to water crops
Melting snow from mountains caused rivers to overflow
Rivers were filled with silt
Silt was good for the soil
Tigris River
Euphrates River
Controlling Floods Farmers used dams and irrigation to control the flooding of the rivers
Irrigation Irrigation is a system that supplies dry land with water through ditches, pipes, or streams
Food Surplus Food surplus led to job specialization
People could become artisans or skilled worker
Made pottery, tools, and weapons
Gave rise to cities, trade and civilizations
Sumer’s Civilizations People were know as Sumerians
They built the cities of Ur, Eridu,, and Uruk
City-States Arise A city-state is a city with its own government and the surrounding farmland
◦ Protected by a large wall◦ Mud was the main building material◦ City-states fought and traded with each other
Gods, Priests, and Kings Sumerians were polytheistic
◦ Polytheism is the belief in many gods◦ Believed gods had power over nature and people
Ziggurat Sumerians built ziggurats to honor its god
Ziggurat means to rise high
A holy place was at the very top◦ It was the god’s home
Social Groups
King,
priests, warriors, and government officials
Merchants, farmers, fishers, and artisans
slaves
Farmers and Traders Most people in Sumer were farmers
Wheat, barley, and dates were main crops
Trade was major part of economy
Trade routes linked Sumer to places as far away as India and Egypt
Sumerian Merchants Traded wheat, barley, and tools for timber, minerals, and metals Sumerians valued a red stone called carnelian from India’s Indus River Valley
Searched for a blue stone called lapis lazuli from Afghanistan
Traders returned with iron and silver from Turkey
Sumerian Contributions Writing-most important contribution
Writing was called cuneiform
Contained wedge shaped symbols
Wrote on clay tablets
Only wealthy learned to read and write
Became scribes-a person who wrote documents often a record keeper
Used for record keeping and tax collecting
Technology and Mathematics
Invented the Wheel
Sailboat
Bronze Sumerians were the first to make bronze with copper and tin
Geometry Used geometry to measure the size of fields
Place value Sumerians used a place value based on 60
360 degree circle
Time 60 minute hour
60 second minute
Calendar 12 month calendar
plow
Large Relief Sculptors
Mosaics
Cylinder Seals
A cylinder seal is a cylinder engraved with a 'picture story', used in ancient times to roll an impression onto a two-
dimensional surface, generally wet clay
Uses of Cylinder Seals The seals were needed as signatures, confirmation of receipts, or to mark clay tablets and building blocks
Ancient Mesopotamia Song By Mr. Nicky