Point of View Point of View pictures and pictures and

Sumerian VocabSumerian Vocab

Vocab for SumerVocab for SumerFertile Crescent – Fertile Crescent – Area of land in Asia Area of land in Asia that is shaped like a that is shaped like a crescent and is good crescent and is good for growing crops.for growing crops.

MesopotamiaMesopotamiaGreek word for “the Greek word for “the land between two land between two rivers”. Can be used rivers”. Can be used as a synonym for the as a synonym for the Fertile CrescentFertile Crescent

Tigris – EuphratesTigris – EuphratesThe two rivers that flow The two rivers that flow through Fertile Crescent through Fertile Crescent to the Persian Gulf. to the Persian Gulf. They are wild and often They are wild and often overflow – which is what overflow – which is what makes the area so fertilemakes the area so fertile

Sumer – SumerianSumer – SumerianSouthern section of the Southern section of the Fertile Crescent. Fertile Crescent. Sumerians lived in Sumerians lived in Sumer, one of the first Sumer, one of the first civilizations in the civilizations in the world.world.

““History begins with History begins with Sumer”Sumer”

Sumerians were the first to Sumerians were the first to develop a form of writing. develop a form of writing. Their writing (cuneiform) Their writing (cuneiform) propels them into history propels them into history where writing records their where writing records their stories and their way of life.stories and their way of life.

““Cradle of Civilization”Cradle of Civilization”What we call the Fertile What we call the Fertile Crescent or Mesopotamia. Crescent or Mesopotamia. This land was the “cradle” This land was the “cradle” for holding the “new-born for holding the “new-born baby” that was civilization.baby” that was civilization.

CivilizationCivilizationThree requirementsThree requirements

A group of peopleA group of peopleShare a way of lifeShare a way of lifeCan read and writeCan read and write

CultureCultureA way of life that A way of life that includesincludesDress, customs, Dress, customs, holidays, language, holidays, language, religions, foods, stories, religions, foods, stories, heroes and traditions.heroes and traditions.

#1 - Ancient Sumer and #1 - Ancient Sumer and BabyloniaBabylonia

On the mapOn the mapPresent day Iraq (near Present day Iraq (near Iran)Iran)

Few resources besides Few resources besides clay (needed stone, clay (needed stone, wood, gold)wood, gold)

Good water – two rivers Good water – two rivers surrounding the landsurrounding the land

Good crops (flax, barley)Good crops (flax, barley)About 6 great cities in an About 6 great cities in an area about the size of area about the size of MassachusettsMassachusetts

““First” civilizationFirst” civilizationSumer was responsible for Sumer was responsible for the first:the first:

Casting of bronze and copperCasting of bronze and copperEngravingEngravingSculptingSculptingWritingWritingLaw-makingLaw-making

GovernmentGovernmentWeights and MeasuresWeights and MeasuresAstronomyAstronomyAND MORE!!!!AND MORE!!!!

#2 - Sumerian #2 - Sumerian EconomyEconomy

Different jobsDifferent jobs FarmersFarmers HerdsmenHerdsmen FishermenFishermen MerchantsMerchants ScribesScribes PottersPotters MasonsMasons JewelersJewelers

FarmersFarmers Farming was the most Farming was the most

popular jobpopular job Used donkeys and oxen Used donkeys and oxen The oldest piece of literature The oldest piece of literature

found is a farmers almanac – found is a farmers almanac – 5000 years old!5000 years old!

Barley was their best grain Barley was their best grain – they used it for porridge, – they used it for porridge, flour, and beerflour, and beer

TradersTraders Traders were needed to Traders were needed to

obtain stone, wood and obtain stone, wood and metal.metal.

What about the location of What about the location of Sumer made it a good Sumer made it a good trading community??trading community??

#3 - City-states#3 - City-states Once the people of Sumer Once the people of Sumer

were able to produce were able to produce sufficient food, their sufficient food, their population could grow.population could grow.

They created cities with They created cities with canals built for irrigation, canals built for irrigation, walls for protection and walls for protection and temples for honoring their temples for honoring their gods.gods.

Population GrowthPopulation Growth By 2000 B.C. the cities By 2000 B.C. the cities

within Sumer grew so large within Sumer grew so large that some, like Ur, had that some, like Ur, had more than 200,000 more than 200,000 residents.residents.

ProtectionProtection Cities were protected with Cities were protected with

walls and moats.walls and moats. The city of Uruk had a wall The city of Uruk had a wall

that was 6 miles long with that was 6 miles long with over 900 towers.over 900 towers.

HousesHouses Most houses were made of clay Most houses were made of clay

bricks covered smoothly with bricks covered smoothly with mud. mud.

There was very little city There was very little city planning and the cities were very planning and the cities were very unattractive!!unattractive!!

Most houses had a family burial Most houses had a family burial crypt below the house.crypt below the house.

GarbageGarbage Garbage and Sewerage Garbage and Sewerage

were thrown into the were thrown into the streets until they piled streets until they piled higher than the house!!higher than the house!!

Upper - classUpper - class Although most houses were only Although most houses were only

one story, upper class members one story, upper class members of Sumer had two story houses of Sumer had two story houses with more rooms and . . . . . . with more rooms and . . . . . . WOOD FURNITURE!!WOOD FURNITURE!!Why was wood furniture a big Why was wood furniture a big deal??deal??

DecorationsDecorations Residents would decorate Residents would decorate

their houses with animal their houses with animal skins and rugs and woolen skins and rugs and woolen wall hangings to cover the wall hangings to cover the walls and floorswalls and floors

Market placeMarket place The business area of town The business area of town

was filled with booths for was filled with booths for merchants to supply the merchants to supply the townspeople with all their townspeople with all their material needsmaterial needs

How do you think people How do you think people “paid” for things??“paid” for things??

#4 – Fun and Games#4 – Fun and Games Archaeologist have found a Archaeologist have found a

“board game” buried in royal “board game” buried in royal graves. They have not been graves. They have not been able to find any rules, but the able to find any rules, but the game consists of pieces and game consists of pieces and dice just like any game you dice just like any game you would play today.would play today.

More funMore fun The board game may have The board game may have

been an “upper-class” been an “upper-class” recreation. Other forms of recreation. Other forms of recreation that we know of recreation that we know of include harp playing, monkey include harp playing, monkey shows and bare-fisted boxing shows and bare-fisted boxing matchesmatches

#5 – Education#5 – Education The biggest impact The biggest impact

Sumerians had on education Sumerians had on education was developing cuneiform.was developing cuneiform.

The wrote on clay tablets The wrote on clay tablets with a sharpened reed with a sharpened reed called a styluscalled a stylus

CuneiformCuneiformThe “scribe” wrote The “scribe” wrote from left to right and from left to right and from top to bottom from top to bottom (Why?)(Why?)

SchoolSchool School was referred to as School was referred to as

the “tablet house”the “tablet house” The school was for males The school was for males

only and the head of the only and the head of the school was called the school was called the “school-father”“school-father”

School facultySchool faculty Other workers had special Other workers had special

responsibilities:responsibilities: The teacher assistant The teacher assistant (“Big Brother”) – checked (“Big Brother”) – checked homework, prepared new homework, prepared new tabletstablets

Penmanship teacherPenmanship teacherGrammar teacherGrammar teacherAttendance KeeperAttendance KeeperDiscipline (“Man with the Discipline (“Man with the whip”)whip”)

CurriculumCurriculum The main focus of school The main focus of school

was to become a scribewas to become a scribe Single classes lasted from Single classes lasted from

morning to sunsetmorning to sunset

DisciplineDisciplineDiscipline appears to Discipline appears to have been a problem in have been a problem in schools, but was solved schools, but was solved with the whip or canewith the whip or cane

One boy’s storyOne boy’s story

He was caned forHe was caned forBeing lateBeing lateGrammar mistakeGrammar mistakeWearing dirty clothesWearing dirty clothesSpeaking without permissionSpeaking without permissionStanding without permissionStanding without permissionTaking something without Taking something without permissionpermission

Poor script workPoor script workPoor spoken grammarPoor spoken grammar

He invited the teacher to He invited the teacher to have dinner at his house have dinner at his house where the boy’s father where the boy’s father gave the teacher new gave the teacher new clothes, a ring and a raise clothes, a ring and a raise in pay and the teacher in pay and the teacher praised the boy from then praised the boy from then on!on!

#6 - Ziggurat#6 - Ziggurat Temples built for many Temples built for many

years in each Sumerian years in each Sumerian citycity

The Ziggurat in Ur had The Ziggurat in Ur had over 3 million bricks!over 3 million bricks!

ZigguratZiggurat They were different from They were different from

pyramids. Pyramids were pyramids. Pyramids were resting places while resting places while Ziggurats were believed to Ziggurats were believed to be stairways from heaven.be stairways from heaven.

Each Ziggurat had two Each Ziggurat had two templestemplesThe higher one was for The higher one was for receiving their heavenly receiving their heavenly visitorvisitor

The lower one was for The lower one was for helping their visitor rest helping their visitor rest before ascending againbefore ascending again

ReligionReligion Soon, priests were praying for Soon, priests were praying for

the entire community in the the entire community in the Ziggurat all day long (Why?)Ziggurat all day long (Why?)

The temple became the The temple became the center of the community and center of the community and markets and courts starting markets and courts starting to form around the Zigguratto form around the Ziggurat

#7 – Death pit of Ur#7 – Death pit of UrSometime around 2000 Sometime around 2000 B.C. the Death Pit of Ur B.C. the Death Pit of Ur was destroyed by enemies.was destroyed by enemies.

We have learned much of We have learned much of daily Sumerian life from daily Sumerian life from the remnants of these pits.the remnants of these pits.

When a king died he was When a king died he was buried with his most valuable buried with his most valuable possessions, as well as possessions, as well as voluntary human sacrifices of voluntary human sacrifices of his:his:Guards, musicians, servants, Guards, musicians, servants, court officials, wives, donkey court officials, wives, donkey (although properly not as (although properly not as voluntary for the donkey)voluntary for the donkey)

#8 – Rules of the Dead#8 – Rules of the Dead They believed that Gods They believed that Gods

lived above the earth and lived above the earth and the dead descended to the the dead descended to the nether world below the nether world below the earth.earth.

They believed that even the They believed that even the moon and the sun spent moon and the sun spent time in the nether world. time in the nether world.

The nether world was The nether world was portrayed as a place of portrayed as a place of darkness darkness

They believed that They believed that Gilgamesh was Gilgamesh was responsible for responsible for enforcing the rules enforcing the rules of the nether of the nether world. world.

To go into the nether world, To go into the nether world, the dead were not allowed to the dead were not allowed to wear oils, sandals, carry a wear oils, sandals, carry a weapon, make noise or even weapon, make noise or even wear clean clotheswear clean clothes

Any violation and their soul Any violation and their soul would be trapped.would be trapped.

They also They also believed that by believed that by bringing gifts to bringing gifts to the Gods who ran the Gods who ran the underworld the underworld they could they could achieve greater achieve greater happiness and happiness and contentment in contentment in the nether world.the nether world.

Many of the Many of the Sumerian beliefs Sumerian beliefs in the after life in the after life are also present are also present the later cultures the later cultures of Greece and of Greece and RomeRome

Map QuizMap Quiz

Goodbye Sumer, Hello Goodbye Sumer, Hello BabylonBabylon

When: 1750 B.C.When: 1750 B.C. Where: Sumer, Fertile Where: Sumer, Fertile

Crescent, MesopotamiaCrescent, Mesopotamia Who: Hummurabi (from Who: Hummurabi (from

the North)the North)

HowHow The three W’sThe three W’s

Watched – all the fighting Watched – all the fighting between Sumerian city-between Sumerian city-statesstates

Waited – for them to get Waited – for them to get tiredtired

WON!! – surprised them WON!! – surprised them and they would not co-and they would not co-operate with each other operate with each other to beat Hammurabito beat Hammurabi

WhatWhat Hammurabi accomplished the Hammurabi accomplished the

following:following:Fixed up / remodeled the city-Fixed up / remodeled the city-states, especially his new states, especially his new beautiful capital of Babylon (re-beautiful capital of Babylon (re-named the land after it)named the land after it)

Made the fighting stop!!Made the fighting stop!!Left everything else aloneLeft everything else alone

ImportanceImportance Hammurabi and the Hammurabi and the

Babylonians were given Babylonians were given credit for:credit for:Bringing peace to the landBringing peace to the landCreating a 12-month / 360 Creating a 12-month / 360 day calendarday calendar

Inventing the Sun DialInventing the Sun DialInventing the Water ClockInventing the Water ClockCreating the Ishtar GateCreating the Ishtar GateEstablishing Establishing Hammurabi’s Code of Hammurabi’s Code of LawsLaws

Other people of the Other people of the Fertile CrescentFertile Crescent

The fertile crescent was an The fertile crescent was an area of non-stop WARarea of non-stop WAR

Many civilizations conquered Many civilizations conquered the land, set their own rules the land, set their own rules and culture and then were and culture and then were swept awayswept away

The Sumerians were first, The Sumerians were first, but there were many but there were many others to follow . . . . . . others to follow . . . . . .

BabyloniansBabylonians Nickname: The TIME Nickname: The TIME

peoplepeople Leader: HammurabiLeader: Hammurabi

Contributions: Things Contributions: Things having to do with timehaving to do with timeSundialSundialWater ClockWater ClockCalendarCalendarHammurabi CodeHammurabi CodeIshtar GateIshtar Gate

HebrewsHebrews Ancestors of Jewish peopleAncestors of Jewish people They gave us the idea of They gave us the idea of

monotheism – One God monotheism – One God instead of 3,000instead of 3,000

They also gave us one of the They also gave us one of the greatest pieces of literature greatest pieces of literature ever written – the Bibleever written – the Bible

AssyriansAssyrians Nickname: Poor WinnersNickname: Poor Winners They were ruthless They were ruthless

conquerors, but had good conquerors, but had good fashion sensefashion sense

Famous ruler: queen Famous ruler: queen named Semiramisnamed Semiramis

She sent armies to the north She sent armies to the north and south and WON.and south and WON.

She also invented trousers. She also invented trousers. They were more comfortable They were more comfortable to wear on horseback and to wear on horseback and the enemy could not tell if the enemy could not tell if the soldier was a man or a the soldier was a man or a woman when they wore woman when they wore trousers. trousers.

PersiansPersians Nickname: the Big Bad Nickname: the Big Bad

Bullies of AsiaBullies of Asia They ruled all of Asia!! (not They ruled all of Asia!! (not

just the crescent)just the crescent) BIG – lots of membersBIG – lots of members

BAD – loved to take over BAD – loved to take over anything and everythinganything and everything

BULLIES – targeted weaker BULLIES – targeted weaker people and didn’t play fairpeople and didn’t play fair

PhoeniciansPhoenicians Nickname: The A-B-C-D PeopleNickname: The A-B-C-D People A- AlphabetA- Alphabet They were different from any They were different from any

other people of the crescent. other people of the crescent. They did NOT farm, they were They did NOT farm, they were sailors and traders.sailors and traders.

They lived near the coast of the They lived near the coast of the Mediterranean.Mediterranean.

A- “Alphabet”A- “Alphabet” To keep a record of their To keep a record of their

sales they developed the sales they developed the AlphabetAlphabet

B – “Big Mouths”B – “Big Mouths”They were salesmen and They were salesmen and good talkers. They had good talkers. They had to be!to be!

C – “Carriers of C – “Carriers of Civilization”Civilization”

They not only went from They not only went from place to place to trade place to place to trade goods, but they also goods, but they also brought with them new brought with them new ideas and shared them with ideas and shared them with all the people they traded all the people they traded with.with.

D – “Dye”D – “Dye” Dye was their best selling itemDye was their best selling item It was a certain shade of purple It was a certain shade of purple

that came from shellfish in the that came from shellfish in the MediterraneanMediterranean

It was so expensive that in Rome, It was so expensive that in Rome, only Emperors were allowed to only Emperors were allowed to wear a stripe of it on their togas.wear a stripe of it on their togas.

““Stars” of the Fertile CrescentStars” of the Fertile Crescent Hammurabi – Hammurabi –

BabylonianBabylonian Nebuchadnezzar – Nebuchadnezzar –

Babylonian King. Babylonian King. Constructed the Constructed the hanging gardens hanging gardens of Babylon for hisof Babylon for his

wife wife

More stars . . . .More stars . . . . SemiramisSemiramis Enlil-Bani – interesting way Enlil-Bani – interesting way

to become King to become King

Enlil-BaniEnlil-Bani On New Year’s Day On New Year’s Day

Mesopotamians had a huge Mesopotamians had a huge celebration and at the end of celebration and at the end of the day they were suppose to the day they were suppose to sacrifice their king to bring sacrifice their king to bring them good luck for the next them good luck for the next year.year.

But . . .But . . . The real king had no intention The real king had no intention

of kicking the bucket, so the of kicking the bucket, so the people went out and got a people went out and got a KING FOR THE DAYKING FOR THE DAY

The Royal TreatmentThe Royal Treatment This guy was given the best This guy was given the best

treatment in the world for the treatment in the world for the entire day . . . And then entire day . . . And then ……………..……………..

Enlil-BaniEnlil-Bani Enlil-Bani got lucky though - - Enlil-Bani got lucky though - -

- He was “chosen” as king for - He was “chosen” as king for the day but during his day, the day but during his day, the real king DIED!! He went the real king DIED!! He went on to rule for 24 years!!!!on to rule for 24 years!!!!

Sargon the GreatSargon the Great Sargon means “True King”Sargon means “True King” He began in a simple herding He began in a simple herding

family and rose all the way up family and rose all the way up to be Kingto be King

He was the first ruler of the He was the first ruler of the land (before Hammurabi)land (before Hammurabi)