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FIRST SCHOOLS• Developed in the land
of Sumer.• 4,000 years ago. • Graduates of schools
became Scribes.• Scribe:– Professional Writers. – Kept records for kings
and priests. – Began school at age 8.– Finished 10 years later.
GEOGRAPHICAL SETTING
• Sumer was located in region called Mesopotamia.• Rich Soil• One of the most prosperous areas of the ancient world.
• MESOPOTAMIA:– Greek word= “Between
the rivers”.
• Fertile Crescent:– Region in Southwest
Asia that was the site of the world’s first civilization.
– Rivers make the shape of a crescent around the city.
– Great for farming
LOCATION
LIFE• TIGRIS and
EUPHRATES rivers main source.
• Rivers supplied:– Rich Soil – Fish– Clay (for building)– Reeds (build boats)
DEATH• Floods did not
always happen the same time each year.
• Swept away people, animals, crops, and houses.
• Rebuild and pray next flood not be so destructive.
RIVERS OF LIFE AND DEATH
Checking for Understanding
•How did flooding rivers affect people who settled in Mesopotamia?
• Flooding made – Farming: which
allowed for people to prosper and live in Mesopotamia.
– Floods also sometimes swept away
– People– Animals – Crops– And Homes.
• City-State:– A city that is also
a separate, independent state.
• Shared:– Common Culture.– Language.
• Did not share:– Same Ruler
• Acted as independent states.
• Had own:–God/
Goddess.–Government–Army–King
INDEPENDENT CITIES FORM
Checking for Understanding
•How were the cities of Sumer Governed?
•Each City had its own–Government –Laws
• Public Squares– Marketplaces.
• Merchants• Acrobats• Beggars
• Scribes: – Wrote letters for those
who could not read/write for a fee $$$.
• Houses:– Faced away from the
streets.– Faced inner courtyards.– Hot nights, slept on top
of houses.– Oil Lamps
SUMERIAN CITY
• ZIGGURAT:– Site of the temple
to the main god or goddess of the city.
• Made of Terraces• Up to 7 stories high.• Top: Shrine• Believed that gods
descended to earth using the ziggurat as a stairway.
SUMERIAN RELIGIONSumerian Temples
• POLYTHEISM:– Belief in many
gods.
• MYTHS:– Stories about gods that
explain people’s beliefs.
• Gods would punish people who angered them.
• Serve the Gods well and you shall be rewarded.
• Would honor the gods in ceremonies.
ANCIENT RELIGIOUS BELIEFS
• Their Wealth became their downfall.
• City-states fought each other over land and use of the river water.
• 2300 B.C.– Conquered by AKKAD. – King SARGON united the
city-states and improved Government.
• Remained united for 100 years.
• 2000 B.C. lost all power.
• 1700s B.C.: –Fell to
Babylonia
THE FALL OF SUMER