School of Interior DesigningDesigningHi t IHistory –I

M t iMesopotamia

S t ISemester –I

Ancient History andAncient History and CivilizationsCivilizations

In the next several units we areIn the next several units we aregoing to study the history of thefirst civilizations.

There are other ancientcivilizations that existed atcivilizations that existed atdifferent times.

Ci ili tiCivilizations

• Early man did not live incivilizations They lived in villagescivilizations. They lived in villagesor communities.

• So what is a civilization?So what is a civilization?

Civilizations consist of:OCitiesOCitiesOOrganized governments

A tOArtOReligiongOClass divisions

Civilizations started aroundCivilizations started around rivers. Why?rivers. Why?

Good farming conditions

Provided fish and freshwater

Easy to travel

Easy to trade ( d d id(way goods and ideas moved from place to place)place)

MesopotamianMesopotamian Civilization

Focusing on the Main Ideas

• Civilization in Mesopotamia began in thevalleys of the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers.y g p

• Sumerians invented writing and made otherimportant contributions to later peoples.important contributions to later peoples.

• Sumerian city-states lost power when theywere conquered by outsiderswere conquered by outsiders.

Why live in Mesopotamia ?y p• create a high and safeflood plain

• make irrigation andcanal construction easy

• provide protection

• the surrounding swampswere full of fish &waterfowl

Civilizations first began as villages.The villages gradually grew into complexThe villages gradually grew into complexsocieties.O This area called Mesopotamia (“landO This area called Mesopotamia ( land

between the rivers”)O Mesopotamia located in the FertileO Mesopotamia located in the Fertile

Crescent.

O Fertile Crescent was a curved strip of landthat extended from the Mediterranean Sea toth P i G lf Th i i th ftthe Persian Gulf. The rivers in the area oftenflooded in the spring leaving behind rich soilfor farmingfor farming.

FloodingFloodingO Floods in Mesopotamia were frequent

d di t bl F l d tand unpredictable. Farmers learned to control the rivers with dams and channels. They also used the rivers to irrigate.g

As cities formed, the people neededplans and decisions made for the city.p yThis led to governments being formed.

O Laws - keep orderO Armies defend themselvesO Armies - defend themselvesO Building projectsg j

During this time humans worried less about basic needsabout basic needs.Shelter/Food/Clothing

People could do other thingsPeople could do other things.• Develop religions• Develop arts

Invent ways of writing• Invent ways of writing• Create calendars

Farmers builtODams ---

t t lto control floodsCh lOChannels ---

OWalls *****W t ***** t tOWaterways ***** to water crops

( ) *****ODitches(drain) *****

Cause Effect

Irrigation 1 plenty of foodIrrigation 1.plenty of food

2.Support large population

SumerSumerORegion in southern Mesopotamia that had many citiesmany cities.

OEach city was a city-state (had their own government and not part of any largergovernment and not part of any larger government.

O Sumerian cities often fought eachother. To protect themselves, theother. To protect themselves, thecity-states built walls aroundthemselvesthemselves.

Cause EffectCity-states were separatedCity states were separated by deserts and mud flats

t lno travel or communication between each city-state

built walls aroundbuilt walls around city

ZigguratZigguratO Sumerians believedO Sumerians believed

in many gods andthought their Godsghad power overnature and human

ti itactivity.O They wanted to

l th G dplease the Gods.O They built ziggurats

( d t l ) i(grand temple) inthe center of eachcity for their chiefcity for their chiefgod.

Large temples dedicated to the God of the cityMade of layer upon layer of mud bricks in the shape of a pyramid in many tiers

(due to constant flooding and from belief that gods resided on mountaintops)

Temple on top served as the God’s home and was beautifully decoratedInside was a room for offerings of

Ziggurat of Ur -2000BCE

Inside was a room for offerings of food and goodsTemples evolved to ziggurats- a stack of 1-7 platforms decreasing in 2000BCE p gsize from bottom to top

Famous ziggurat was Tower of B b lBabel (over 100m above ground and 91m base)

ZigguratZiggurat• It was built like a wedding cake.• On top was a special place of worship• On top was a special place of worship.• Only priest could enter.

Enlil (supreme god & god of air)

I ht ( dd f f tilit & lif )Ishtar (goddess of fertility & life)

An (god of heaven)

Enki (god of water & underworld)

Shamash (god of sun and giver of law)

GovernmentOPriests may have been theOPriests may have been the first to rule.OKings later ran the governmentgovernment.

People in SumerpOPriests/KingsOPriests/KingsOFarmers

A ti ( kill d k th tOArtisans (skilled workers thatmade metal products, cloth, andppottery)

OMerchants and traders (traveledOMerchants and traders (traveledto other cities and traded tools,wheat, copper, tin, timber)

Social ClassesSocial ClassesOUpper class King priestsOUpper class- King, priests, government officials

OMiddle class- artisans,OMiddle class artisans, merchants, farmers, fishers (largest group)

OLower class- slaves (worked on farms or in temples) Slaves may havetemples) Slaves may have been prisoners of war or debtor.

Roles of SocietyyOMen – head of householdOMen head of household OWomen – had rights, could buy and sell property and run businessesrun businesses.

Cradle of CivilizationSumerians’ ideas and inventionsSumerians ideas and inventionswere copied and improved uponby other peoples.They left a lasting mark onThey left a lasting mark onworld history.

C ifCuneiformOGreatest invention of SumeriansOGreatest invention of SumeriansOType of writing

l d k d f b d OHelped keep records of business and events

OOnly males could learn to write and became scribesbecame scribes.

OAt first they used pictures to tell a story ( i t h)(pictograph)

OEach picture evolved into a symbol for a word.

I ti fInnovations of SumeriansSumeriansO CuneiformO CuneiformO Irrigation systemsO Wagon wheelO Wagon wheelO SailboatO Number system based on 60 (60-minute y (

hour, 60-second minute, and 360-degree circle)

O 12 th l d b d l fO 12-month calendar based on cycles of the moon.

O Mud bricksO Mud bricks

Over the centuries, many different people lived in this area creating a collection of independentin this area creating a collection of independent

states

Sumer- southern part (3500-2000 BCE)Akkad- northern part (2340 – 2180 BCE)Akkad northern part (2340 2180 BCE)Babylonia- these two regions were unified (1830-1500 BCE)(1830 1500 BCE)Assyria- Assyrian Empire (1100 -612 BCE)

AssignmentgO Each student will write a secret

message to trade with another studentstudent.

O Your partner will have to decode without helpwithout help.