The Birth of Civilization

Groups of individuals are usually seen as civilizations

But nomadic peoples are not seen this wayUnless you are the Mongols

Anyone not living in civilizations are often called barbariansBarbarian originally comes from the ancient

Greeks because any language that was not theirs sounded like BarBarBarBar to them

What is a Civilization?

If you have 4 or more of these symptoms you might be a civilizationAdvanced citiesFood SurplusTradeSpecialized workersComplex institutions (usually religion)Record keeping (writing)Advanced technology (for the time)

Food surplus = increased population= expanded trade = expansion of societyThis causes civilization and ideas to spread

What is a civilization?

The Ancient Fertile Crescent

The Ancient Fertile Crescent

The Middle East: “The Cradle of Civilization”

The Middle East: “The Cradle of Civilization”

Play to Sargon

Babylon to Bagdad

Mesopotamia – “land between the two rivers”1st Civilization developed between the

Euphrates and the Tigris RiversThe people are called SumeriansPeople give some freedoms up for security

and grainBy the way taxes are invented here.

Ur and Ururk are the 1st city states The beginnings of “The Bronze Age”

Fertile Crescent

Sumerian SocietyDeveloped city-states

A city state is simply a city which acts as its own country.

Hence “City” which is a city and “State” which is another name for country.

Sumerian Religion - Polytheistic

Sumerian Religion - Polytheistic

Enki

Enki

Innana

Innana

Belief in multiple gods and priests were at the top of the

social ladder

Belief in multiple gods and priests were at the top of the

social ladder

Tigress and Euphrates RiversNeeded much labor which causes slavery b/c of

conditionsHard to navigateFloods violently and unpredictably

Because the Tigress and Euphrates are so difficult to deal with the gods of Samaria are also temperamentalAnyone who could placate these gods was

considered AWESOME (priests)Soon however kings would take top place in

the city-states.How?

It is fertile but that is about it.It needed pretty much everything else non-

agricultural from outside the area.

That =TRADE

Fertile Crescent

Mesopotamian TradeMesopotamian Trade

“The Cuneiform World”

“The Cuneiform World”

Cuneiform: “Wedge-Shaped” Writing

Cuneiform: “Wedge-Shaped” Writing

Deciphering Cuneiform

Deciphering Cuneiform

Sumerian ScribesSumerian Scribes

“Tablet House” “Tablet House”

Sumerian Cylinder Seals

Sumerian Cylinder Seals

Mesopotamian HarpMesopotamian Harp

Board Game From UrBoard Game From Ur

Sophisticated Metallurgy Skills

at Ur

Sophisticated Metallurgy Skills

at Ur

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOrfrHys8g8 Animated story https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CmJEAw6LUxk Flood story

Cuneiform – 1st written language

Sumerian SocietyPolytheistic – multiple godsWrote myths (Epic of Gilgamesh) – 1st

literatureWomen probably couldn’t attend school

but had many other rightsAdvances in mathematics

Number system based on 60 (60 seconds=1 minute)

END OF DAY 1- HOORAY!

Sumerian InventionsWriting - CuneiformWagon wheelPotter’s wheel (shape

containers)Number system12 month calendarMetal plowSailSome of the earliest

known mapsNew architectureTaxes

From Sumerians to Babylonians

The individual Sumerian city-states eventually fell (2000s BC)

These invaders were usually nomadic peoples that took over and then settled in the city as it usually happens in history. Unless you are the Mongols

The Akkadians:Sargon I (2300-2200 BC) unites all Mesopotamian

cities (creates first empire)Under Sargon I

Akkadians adopted Sumerian religionAkkadians adopted Sumerian farming

to Hammurabi (optional)Hammurabi DBQ after video

Kings From Babylon to Bagdad

Babylonian Empire

Amorites (2000-1600 BC)

Located in modern day Syria

Conquered many parts of old Sumeria (including Babylon)

Hammurabi--created a law code with harsh punishments

Hammurabi Stile Borrowed heavily from

Sumerian cultureAfter Hammurabi’s

death Babylon declined

Babylon to Bagdad to end of Nebuchadnezzar

HittitesBegan to conquer Asia

Minor (2000 BC)A strong army with

chariotsConquered Babylon in

1595 BC)Borrowed from

Mesopotamian and Egyptian culture

Had a law code less harsh than Hammurabi’s

Lasted until about 1200 BC

AssyriansStarted to gain

strength about 900 BC

Powerful armyTreated conquered

people cruellyLarge empire with

good roadsCollapsed about

612 BC

ChaldeansDefeated the Assyrians

in about 612 BCDescended from

Hammurabi's Babylonians

Burned Assyrian Capital and destroying the worlds 1st library

At its height during the rule of Nebuchadnezzar (605-562 BC)

Empire collapsed in 539 BC after being defeated by the Persians

At its height during the rule of Nebuchadnezzar (605-562 BC)Spent a lot of money on BabylonBuilt Hanging GardensDefeated the Jewish people and forced them

out of Jerusalem.Empire collapsed in 539 BC after being

defeated by the Persians

Chaldeans

Egypt DBQ