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Civilization Begins in Mesopotamia. The Fertile Crescent. Between the Rivers. “The Fertile Crescent” Mesopotamia Means “between the rivers” Tigris and Euphrates They flood and deposit silt that was ideal for farming. Floods were unpredictable Used irrigation to control water - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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Civilization Begins in Mesopotamia
The Fertile Crescent
• “The Fertile Crescent”• Mesopotamia
– Means “between the rivers”
• Tigris and Euphrates– They flood and deposit silt
that was ideal for farming.• Floods were unpredictable
– Used irrigation to control water
• Can grow a large amount of food– Cities could become
larger
Between the Rivers
Sumer
• First Mesopotamian civilization was Sumer (Around 3000BC)– Religion and Government
• Were polytheistic– Belief in many gods.
– Humans were supposed to obey and serve the gods.
– Gods and Goddesses owned the cities
• Theocracy– A government by divine authority.
City-States• Large cities that had
control over surrounding countryside.– Surrounded by walls.– Homes were built of
sun-dried mud bricks.– Every city had a
ziggurat – temple devoted to the gods.
Ziggurat at Ur
Economy and Trade• Economy was based on farming and trade.
– Traded with India and the Mediterranean.
• Made pottery, cloth, and metalwork– Used Gold, Copper, Silver, Bronze
Writing and Technology• The Sumerians greatest invention was
their writing, called cuneiform.
Writing and Technology• Used cuneiform mostly to
keep records.– Scribe became an important
position for wealthy boys only.
• Also had several other inventions…– Wheel (Wagon and Potters)– Sundial– Arch
• Devised a number system based on 60
Standard of Ur
Standard of Ur - Front
“War”
Standard of Ur
“Peace”
Creation of Empires• Akkadians invade
and overtake the Sumerian city-states. (2340BC)– Sargon I– First Empire
• Akkad falls in 2100BC
• City-states fought until 1792BC when Babylon took power under Hammurabi
Sumer