{Early Civilization

Mesopotamia: The Fertile Crescent

Understanding History Time Lines

Early Civilization Began in a region known as the fertile Cresent. Or Mesopotamia.

Mesopotamia today is known as the Middle East

Located on the Tigris River Located on the Euphrates River These Rives would flood creating Rich soil Rich soil made it easier to grow crops and

establish roots in one location. Stopped the “nomad” lifestyle (Hunting and

Gathering)

Geographical Reasons for Being the First Civilization

Sumerians-3500 BCE-1800 BCE Babylonian-1800 BCE-1530 BCE Assyrian-1160 BCE-612 BCE Persians- 550 BCE-330 BCE

Ancient Peoples

Pictorgrams-3500 BCE Cuneiform-3200 BCE First “Epic Literature” Gilgamesh Solar Year of 12 months Hammurabi’s Code-1760 BCE

Contributions of the Early Civilizations

Created by the Sumerians First form of writing known Used for Governmental documents Written on clay

Cuneiform

First evidence of written Literature From Mesopotamia Theme: A Hero’s Epic Journey

Gilgamesh

First Written Laws Hammurabi was King of Babylon

Hammurabi’s Law Code

Mesopotamia- Name for Middle East in ancient times

Euphrates river- Important river that flowed through Mesopotamia

Tigris River-Important river that flowed through Mesopotamia (these river connect)

Cuneiform- First form of ancient writing.

Gilgamesh-The first written work Hammurabi's Law Code- First written

laws

Vocabulary

What are two important rivers in Mesopotamia?

What was the first form of writing? What were the first written laws called?

Locate on the Map The Tigris and Euphrates rivers

Questions