Unit 2: Mesopotamia and the Fertile Crescent

Mr. DavisSocial Studies 7

The Fertile Crescent

• Mesopotamia = “land between the rivers”

• The Tigris River and the Euphrates River give Mesopotamia its name.

• Located in present-day IRAQ• “Mesopotamia” means

“between the rivers” in Greek.

The Fertile Crescent

• MESOPOTAMIA is part of a larger region called THE FERTILE CRESCENT, a large arc of rich, fertile farmland that extends from the Persian Gulf to the Mediterranean Sea.

The Fertile Crescent

Two Parts

• Northern Mesopotamia = a plateau (flat area high above sea level) bordered to the north and east by mountains

• Southern Mesopotamia = a flat coastal plain and river valley. The Tigris and Euphrates Rivers both flowed through Southern Mesopotamia.

The Rise of Civilization

• Hunter-gatherers first settled in Mesopotamia about 12,000 years ago.

• Silt deposits made it ideal for farming.• Crops = wheat, barley, other grains• Other food sources = Livestock, birds, fish• Plentiful food led to population growth, and

villages formed. • This became the world’s first civilization.

Farming and Cities

• Flooding was a major problem in the beginning.• People built canals to control flooding and irrigate

fields.• This led to a surplus in food supply.• Also used irrigation to water pastures for cattle and

sheep to graze. Allowed for a variety of foods.

Division of labor

• With the surpluses, people were able to do other jobs—crafters, religious leaders, government workers.

• Having people do different jobs allowed for more to get done.• Large projects helped people in government because they

managed and organized people.• Cities grew between 4000 and 3000 BC (BCE).• Centers for trade, power bases for leaders• Political, Religious, Cultural, Economic centers of civilization

The Rise of Sumer

• Sumerians developed the first civilization in southern Mesopotamia—an advanced society in 3000 BC.

Sumerian City-States

• Most Sumerians were farmers in rural areas.

• The centers of Sumerian societies were urban areas.

• City-states were the basic political units of Sumer.

Sumerian City-States

• City-states often fought each other for more farmland.

• Built up large armies and large thick walls for protection

• By 3500 BC, a city-state known as Kish had become quite powerful. Over the next 1000 years, the city-states of Ur and Uruk fought for dominance. One of Uruk’s kings, Gilgamesh became a legendary figure in Sumerian folklore.

Rise of the Akkadian Empire• Akkadians lived north of

Sumer, but were not Sumerians (different culture).

• Sargon was an Akkadian emperor that built a permanent army—launched a series of wars against neighboring kingdoms.

• Sargon conquered all Sumer and built the first empire.

Sumerian Religion

• Played a key role in aspects of life• Polytheism – belief in many gods• Each city-state considered one god to be its

special protector• Gods were very powerful and controlled all

parts of life.• Priests performed religious ceremonies and

interpreted wishes of the gods by making offerings.

Sumerian Social Hierarchy

KINGSPRIESTS

TRADERSFARMERS & LABORERS

SLAVES

Men & Women in Sumer

• Men held political power and made laws• Women took care of the home and children• Education was reserved mostly for men, but

some upper-class women were educated as well.

Cuneiform & Pictographs

• Cuneiform is the early system of writing used by the Sumerians.

• Sumerians wrote on clay tablets using a STYLUS.

Scribes

• Scribes are writers.• They were hired to keep records for the

government or for the temple• Becoming a scribe was one way for Sumerians

to move up in social class

Sumerian students

• Students went to school to learn how to read and write.

• Just like today, some Sumerians did not like to go to school

Sumerian students

• Other subjects: history, law, grammar, and math

• Epics were studied—long poems about heroes or gods

The wheel

• Used for carts and wagons• Potter’s wheel (used to spin and mold clay

into useful items)

The plow

• Pulled by oxen, it was used to break up the hard clay soil to make it easier to plant crops.

Other advancements

• A clock that used falling water to tell time• Sewers under city streets• Make bronze to make tools and weapons

stronger• Makeup• Glass jewelry

Math

• Number system based on 60• Divided a circle into 360 degrees• Developed a 12-month year (12 a factor of 60)• Calculated areas of triangles and rectangles

Science

• Wrote long lists to record study of the natural world.

• Studied numerous plants, animals, and minerals

Medicine

• Used ingredients from animals, plants, and minerals to make medicine.

• Items in medicine included milk, turtle shells, figs, and salt.

Sumerian homes

• Rulers lived in palaces• Wealthy lived in 2-story homes with as many

as a dozen rooms• Most lived in a one-story house with about 6

or 7 rooms around a courtyard• Used mud bricks as building blocks

Ziggurats

• A ziggurat is a pyramid-shaped temple tower that rose above each Sumerian city.

Sumerian Sculpture

• Statues of gods for the temples• Smaller sculptures made of ivory or wood• Created pottery items

Jewelry

• Made impressive works out of gold, silver, and imported gems.

• Earrings were found in the region—shows they knew more advanced methods of jewelry-making

Cylinder Seals

• Stone cylinders that were engraved with designs.

• When rolled over clay, it would leave behind its own distinct imprint

• These seals were used to show ownership or to “sign” important documents

Music

• Kings and temples hired musicians to play on special occasions

• Instruments: reed pipes, drums, tambourines, and stringed instruments called lyres.

• Children learned songs in school• People sang hymns to gods and kings

Babylon

• Mesopotamian city that sat on the Euphrates River

• By 1800 BC, had its own powerful government• Ruled by Hammurabi, who was a monarch—

ruler of a kingdom/empire

Hammurabi’s Code

• A set of 282 laws that dealt with almost every aspect of daily life

• Dealt with trade, loans, marriage, theft, injury, murder…

• Specific crimes brought specific penalties• Social class mattered• After Hammurabi’s death, there were many

invasions of the region.

Invader: THE HITTITES

• After Hammurabi’s death, there were many invasions of the region.

• Strengths: mastered ironworking and created the chariot—a wheeled horse-drawn cart used in battle

• Hittite rule did not last long, however. The Hittite king was killed by an assassin from a group known as the Kassites, who lived north of Babylon and would rule for 400 years.

Invader: THE ASSYRIANS

• Strengths: Strong army—every soldier knew his role. Iron weapons and chariots were used.

• FIERCE in battle—before attacking, they looted villages and burned crops

• Ruled from Nineveh and demanded heavy taxes. Anyone resisting was severely punished.

• Kings appointed local leaders. Road network was built

Invaders: THE CHALDEANS

• Destroyed Nineveh in 612 BC• Ruled by Nebuchadnezzar, who rebuilt Babylon

into a beautiful new city• Constructed the Hanging Gardens (one of the

seven ancient wonders)• Admired Sumerian culture—studied language

and built temples for gods• Accomplishments in astronomy, developed

calendar, solved problems in geometry

The Phoenicians

• NOT invaders of the Fertile Crescent• Cedar trees were abundant resource—not many

other resources b/c of mountains• TRADERS BY SEA!• Established colonies all across the Mediterranean for

trade. CARTHAGE was the most famous• Traded silver, ivory, and slaves.• Developed an alphabet to keep track of records.