Instructions: Read each slide and answer ALL questions on a separate sheet of paper. You may also refer to your homework.

Geography of the Fertile Crescent

• Extends from the Persian Gulf to the eastern Mediterranean coast.

• Known as a crossroads where people and ideas met and mingled.

• Fertile lands attracted Stone Age farmers from neighboring regions.

1)Why is the fertile crescent an ideal location?

Sumerian Civilization: 3500-2300 B.C.E.

Government & Society– Each Sumerian city-state had a distinct social hierarchy

• Ruling family, leading officials, high priests• Lesser priests and scribes, merchants and artisans• Peasant farmers (majority of people)• Slaves

– Role of Women• As men gained power and wealth, women became more

dependant on men. • Well-to-do women some legal rights and even engaged in

trade and owned property.

2) What can you tell about the Sumerian Civilization based on theirSocial hierarchy?

Sumerian Religion

• Polytheistic

• Gods were thought to control every aspect of life

• Each city built a ziggurat, a pyramid-temple that soared towards the heavens

• Believed in an afterlife3) Compare Sumerian ReligionTo the Ancient Eygptians.

Advances in Learning• Earliest form of writing- Cuneiform

– Making wedge shaped marks on clay tablets

• Made advances in mathematics– Developed basic geometry and algebra

– Based their number system on six, dividing the hour into 60 minutes and the circle into 360 degrees

• Priests studied the skies– Recorded the movement of heavenly bodies

– This helped them make accurate calendars4) Which do you think is the most important advance? Why?

Civilizations Of The Middle East

Babylonians1900-1600 B.C.E.

• King Hammurabi of Babylon– Created the Code of Hammurabi

– He was not the author of all the codes but he wanted everyone in the empire to know the legal principles his government would follow.

– He also improved irrigation, organized a well-trained army, and had temples repaired

5) Do you think it is important to write down laws? Why?

Hittites 1800-1200 B.C.E.

• Learned to extract iron from ore

• The tools and weapons they made with iron were harder and had sharper edges than those made of bronze or copper

• The iron was less expensive so they were able to arm more people at less expense

6) What do you think are the pros and cons of this discovery?

Assyrians• Learned to forge iron weapons• Had a reputation for being among the most feared

warriors of all time• Rulers kept a well-ordered society• They were the first to develop extensive laws

regulating life within the royal household• Riches from trade and war loot paid for the

splendid palaces in well-planned cities

The Persian Empire1200-330 B.C.E.

• Persian Kings followed a policy of tolerance• The Persian Empire under Darius set up a

government that became a model for later rulers– He divided the empire into provinces

– He drew up a single code of laws

• To encourage unity, he built miles of roads• To encourage trade he set up a common set of

weights and measures. He also encouraged the use of coins.

Phoenician Sea Traders 1400-800 B.C.E.

• Developed the alphabet– Letters represent spoken sounds– They used this to record business deals

• Gained fame as sailors and traders

• Known for manufacturing– They made glass from coastal sand– Used papyrus to make books

Summary:7) Which contribution was the most important?

Why?8) Which do you think is the most advanced

civilization? Why? 9) What other information would you like to know

about each civilization?10) Why is is important today that we study the

achievements of these ancient civilization?