Ancient Ancient MesopotamiaMesopotamia

Chapter 3Chapter 3

Geography of MesopotamiaGeography of MesopotamiaChapter 3 Lesson 1Chapter 3 Lesson 1

The The TigrisTigris and and EuphratesEuphrates rivers are in rivers are in southwest Asia.southwest Asia.

Starting in present day Turkey and Kurdistan, Starting in present day Turkey and Kurdistan, flowing through flowing through IraqIraq and into the Persian Gulf. and into the Persian Gulf.

The land is The land is flatflat, with small scrubby , with small scrubby plantsplants..

Map of MesopotamiaMap of Mesopotamia

Fertile SoilFertile Soil

Rain and melting snow in the mountains Rain and melting snow in the mountains cause the rivers to cause the rivers to swellswell..

As the water flows down the mountain it As the water flows down the mountain it picks up soil.picks up soil.

When the river reaches the plains, water When the river reaches the plains, water overflowed onto the floodplain.overflowed onto the floodplain.

FloodplainFloodplain-the flat land bordering the -the flat land bordering the banks. banks. The fine soil deposits by rivers is called The fine soil deposits by rivers is called siltsilt..

Semiarid ClimateSemiarid Climate Usually less than Usually less than 10 10

inchesinches of rain fell of rain fell annually.annually.

The summers were The summers were hot.hot.

Although it was Although it was drydry, , crops were still grown crops were still grown due to the rivers and due to the rivers and the fertile soil.the fertile soil.

By By 4000 B.C. 4000 B.C. farming farming villages spread across villages spread across the land.the land.

Floods and DroughtFloods and Drought FloodsFloods could occur as early as April or as late could occur as early as April or as late

as June.as June. DroughtDrought -a period when not enough rain and -a period when not enough rain and

snow fall.snow fall. Drought is a constant danger in a Drought is a constant danger in a semiaridsemiarid

region.region. As a result, As a result, irrigationirrigation was vital to survival. was vital to survival.

Problems from flooding: Problems from flooding: - silt clogging canals- silt clogging canals

- dams unable to hold back - dams unable to hold back excess flood waterexcess flood water

Finding ResourcesFinding Resources Mesopotamians lacked resources, what do Mesopotamians lacked resources, what do

you think they may have done?you think they may have done? They did not build with wood or stone, They did not build with wood or stone,

Mesopotamians used Mesopotamians used mudmud for bricks and for bricks and plaster.plaster.

However, mud buildings However, mud buildings crumbledcrumbled easily easily and often needed repair.and often needed repair.

There were no There were no natural barriers natural barriers such as such as mountains, so attack was always a worry.mountains, so attack was always a worry.

Consequently, Mesopotamians built Consequently, Mesopotamians built mud mud wallswalls around their villages. around their villages.

Finding Resources ContinuedFinding Resources Continued

Mesopotamians Mesopotamians obtained obtained stone, woodstone, wood, , and and metal metal from outside from outside their own land.their own land.

They They tradedtraded for these for these items because they had items because they had a surplus of a surplus of graingrain..

SurplusSurplus-more than -more than what is needed.what is needed.

The First CivilizationThe First CivilizationChapter 3 Lesson 2Chapter 3 Lesson 2

How did Civilization develop in the How did Civilization develop in the region of Sumer?region of Sumer?

The rise of The rise of agricultureagriculture enabled enabled people to settle in villages.people to settle in villages.

Villages became cities. Villages became cities.

As As citiescities became more became more complexcomplex, , the changes that led to more the changes that led to more complexity are what we think of complexity are what we think of when we hear the word civilization.when we hear the word civilization.

CivilizationCivilization--changes over a period changes over a period of time that led to a more complex of time that led to a more complex society.society.

SumerSumer

Most historians think Most historians think SumerSumer was the was the first civilization.first civilization.

33003300 B.C. B.C. Located in southern Located in southern MesopotamiaMesopotamia..

Traits of a CivilizationTraits of a Civilization

1. Advanced cities:1. Advanced cities:– Farmers needed a place to Farmers needed a place to storestore and and tradetrade their their

surplus (grain).surplus (grain).– Large Large templestemples (ziggurats) were places where people (ziggurats) were places where people

could praycould pray– Many different types of workMany different types of work

Traits of a CivilizationTraits of a Civilization 2. Specialized 2. Specialized

Workers:Workers:– SurplusesSurpluses allowed allowed

people to do other types people to do other types of work besides farmingof work besides farming

– Specializing in work Specializing in work means the means the qualityquality of of work improveswork improves

– Cities became crowded, Cities became crowded, people learned to people learned to cooperatecooperate

– Priests Priests took on the job took on the job of organizing the cityof organizing the city

Traits of a CivilizationTraits of a Civilization 3. Complex 3. Complex

InstitutionsInstitutions– ReligionReligion and and

government government became became institutions over timeinstitutions over time

– InstitutionInstitution: : a group a group of people who have a of people who have a specific purposespecific purpose

– What are some What are some institutions today?institutions today?

SchoolsSchoolsMilitaryMilitary

Traits of a CivilizationTraits of a Civilization 4. Record Keeping4. Record Keeping

– Rulers may want to keep Rulers may want to keep track of track of food food suppliessupplies

– Record keeping usually Record keeping usually involves involves writingwriting

– In Mesopotamia, they In Mesopotamia, they started by using counting started by using counting stickssticks

– They later They later inventedinvented the the world’s first writing world’s first writing systemsystem

Traits of a CivilizationTraits of a Civilization 5. Advanced 5. Advanced

TechnologyTechnology– SocietiesSocieties advance as advance as

people learn better people learn better ways to do thingsways to do things

– What are some What are some examples of examples of Mesopotamia’s Mesopotamia’s technology?technology?

IrrigationIrrigation New tools of bronzeNew tools of bronze

Sumerian City-statesSumerian City-states

Cities Cities were centers for education, were centers for education, religion, and trade.religion, and trade.

However, most people still lived in However, most people still lived in the countryside.the countryside.

Sumer continuedSumer continued

The combination of both a city and The combination of both a city and the countryside is called a city-state.the countryside is called a city-state.

City-StateCity-State: : a community that a community that included the nearby farmlands.included the nearby farmlands.

Each city-state ruled itself.Each city-state ruled itself.

Sumer continuedSumer continued By 3000 B.C. Sumer By 3000 B.C. Sumer

had at least had at least 1212 city- city-states.states.

The most popular The most popular were were Kish, UrKish, Ur, and , and NippurNippur..

UrUr was the hometown was the hometown to Abraham, an to Abraham, an important figure in important figure in Christianity, Judaism, Christianity, Judaism, and Islam.and Islam.

Sumer continuedSumer continued

Sumerian cities had Sumerian cities had narrownarrow winding winding streets, much different than today’s cities.streets, much different than today’s cities.

Walls with gates to let people in and out Walls with gates to let people in and out protectedprotected the city. the city.

Houses were built out of mud walls several Houses were built out of mud walls several feet thick.feet thick.

Narrow Narrow tunnelstunnels led through the walls to led through the walls to the outside, so fresh air could get in.the outside, so fresh air could get in.

Sumer continuedSumer continued

A house consisted A house consisted of a several rooms of a several rooms surrounding a surrounding a courtyard.courtyard.

The courtyard was The courtyard was covered with palms, covered with palms, which protected the which protected the people from the sun people from the sun and allowed a place and allowed a place for for cookingcooking..

Sumer continuedSumer continued The Ziggurat: City CenterThe Ziggurat: City Center

– The The largestlargest and most important building was and most important building was the ziggurat.the ziggurat.

– ZigguratZiggurat: : the religious building, temple or the religious building, temple or shrine.shrine.

– They were first build in 2200 B.C.They were first build in 2200 B.C.– They functioned as a city hall because They functioned as a city hall because priests priests

ran the ran the irrigationirrigation system. system.– Priests Priests also controlled the surplus of also controlled the surplus of

grain.grain.– The priests ended up controlling most of The priests ended up controlling most of

the wealth.the wealth.

Changes in LeadershipChanges in Leadership

The Sumerians believed in The Sumerians believed in many gods and goddesses. many gods and goddesses. - A belief in many gods - A belief in many gods and and goddesses is called goddesses is called polytheismpolytheism..

Sumerians believed that four Sumerians believed that four main gods created the main gods created the world and ruled over it.world and ruled over it. - The gods of the - The gods of the sky, sky, wind, foothillswind, foothills, and fresh , and fresh waterwater..

Sumerians believed their Sumerians believed their gods looked and acted like gods looked and acted like people.people.

New Leaders in SumerNew Leaders in Sumer Around 3,000 B.C., as city-states became richer, other Around 3,000 B.C., as city-states became richer, other

groups of people began to attack them to take their groups of people began to attack them to take their wealthwealth. .

The people of the city-states often asked a The people of the city-states often asked a powerful powerful manman to rule them and protect the city. to rule them and protect the city.

At first, these leaders led the city-states only during At first, these leaders led the city-states only during warswars. .

Eventually, the leaders took control of the cities full-Eventually, the leaders took control of the cities full-time. time. – They maintained the canals, managed the surplus grain, and They maintained the canals, managed the surplus grain, and

acted as judges.acted as judges. In time, this new type of ruler became a In time, this new type of ruler became a kingking, who is , who is

the highest-ranked leader of a group of people. the highest-ranked leader of a group of people. The area a king ruled was called a The area a king ruled was called a kingdomkingdom. .

– Sumer became a kingdom under one king by 2375 B.C.Sumer became a kingdom under one king by 2375 B.C.

Life in Sumer - Chapter 3 Lesson 3Life in Sumer - Chapter 3 Lesson 3Social ClassesSocial Classes: The king and priest were at : The king and priest were at

the top of the upper classes, the upper the top of the upper classes, the upper classes also included landowners, classes also included landowners, government officials, and rich merchants.government officials, and rich merchants.

The in-between class consisted of all The in-between class consisted of all freefree people.people.

The lower class consisted of the The lower class consisted of the slavesslaves..

SlavesSlaves Most Most slavesslaves were were

taken as prisoners of taken as prisoners of war. war.

If parents died If parents died prematurely, the prematurely, the childrenchildren might have might have become slaves.become slaves.

Slaves had some Slaves had some rights, they could rights, they could conduct business and conduct business and borrow money.borrow money.

Slaves could also Slaves could also buybuy their freedom.their freedom.

The Role of The Role of WomenWomen

Women’s Women’s socialsocial positions varied positions varied widely.widely.

Women could own Women could own land and work as land and work as merchantsmerchants and and artisansartisans..

However, their However, their main role was to main role was to raise the raise the childrenchildren..

Sumerian Science and TechnologySumerian Science and Technology Early inventions Early inventions

included the included the plowplow and and the the wheelwheel..

A special kind of wheel, A special kind of wheel, the the potter’spotter’s wheel wheel enabled Sumerians to enabled Sumerians to make pottery much make pottery much quicker.quicker.

BronzeBronze, a mixture of , a mixture of copper and tin was used copper and tin was used to make sharper tools to make sharper tools that lasted longer.that lasted longer.

Sumerian Science and TechnologySumerian Science and Technology The Sumerians The Sumerians

number systemnumber system was was based on the number based on the number 60.60.

They understood They understood geometric shapes geometric shapes such as such as rectanglesrectangles, , trianglestriangles and and squaressquares. .

The Creation of Written LanguageThe Creation of Written LanguagePicture WritingPicture Writing First, Sumerians used First, Sumerians used

clay tokensclay tokens that had an that had an image of a product.image of a product.

The symbols were known The symbols were known as as pictographspictographs..

Pictographs, which Pictographs, which means means picture writingpicture writing was eventually put on was eventually put on tablets not tokens.tablets not tokens.

CuneiformCuneiform At first, pictographs At first, pictographs

showed actual objects, showed actual objects, later they stood for later they stood for ideasideas..

Pictographs eventually Pictographs eventually stood for stood for soundssounds..

This enabled them to This enabled them to be able to write more.be able to write more.

Sumerians used a Sumerians used a sharpened reed called sharpened reed called a a stylusstylus for writing. for writing.

Over time, they Over time, they converted to wedge converted to wedge shapes made entirely shapes made entirely of symbols called of symbols called cuneiformcuneiform..

Cuneiform ContinuedCuneiform Continued The Sumerian The Sumerian

languagelanguage contained contained over 600 different over 600 different symbols.symbols.

Therefore, few people Therefore, few people were able to read and were able to read and write.write.

People who People who specialized in writing specialized in writing were called were called scribesscribes..

Written HistoryWritten History At first, At first, recordsrecords were used for were used for

business dealings, but eventually business dealings, but eventually writing was used to retell writing was used to retell warswars, , floodsfloods, and the reigns of kings., and the reigns of kings.

The legend of The legend of Gilgamesh is the Gilgamesh is the oldest known literary oldest known literary writing. writing.

The story was written The story was written in cuneiform on clay in cuneiform on clay tablets around 2000 tablets around 2000 B.C.B.C.

Gilgamesh was an Gilgamesh was an actual name of a king actual name of a king in Sumer, but the in Sumer, but the account of his life is account of his life is mythical. mythical.

Who was Gilgamesh?

The tablets, The tablets, although in poor although in poor condition, still condition, still exist. exist.

The Epic of The Epic of Gilgamesh shows Gilgamesh shows the values and the values and qualities that were qualities that were important to this important to this culture. culture.

An Epic is a long An Epic is a long narrative poem narrative poem that focuses on the that focuses on the adventures and adventures and achievements of a achievements of a heroic person.heroic person.