the first civilizations:. the fertile crescent: land between two rivers in what is now iraq, two...
TRANSCRIPT
The First Civilizations:
The Fertile Crescent:
Land Between Two RiversLand 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
Rivers of LifeRivers 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
Peoples of MesopotamiaMesopotamia 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
City-States of MesopotamiaCity-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
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
The SumeriansThe Sumerians
Sumerian CitiesSumerian 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
Sumerian Religion
Page 39
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
Religion & GovernmentReligion &
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
Sumerian Economy & Society
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
World Changer: The Written Word
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
