The Ancient Middle East-4500BC-331BCThe Ancient Middle East-4500BC-331BC

Fertile CrescentFertile Crescent An area that stretches in a An area that stretches in a

large arc from the Persian large arc from the Persian Gulf to the Mediterranean Gulf to the Mediterranean Sea.Sea.

The word Mesopotamia The word Mesopotamia means "The land between means "The land between two rivers."two rivers."

Named for the regions Named for the regions fertile soil and crescent fertile soil and crescent shape.shape.

Located between the Tigris Located between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. and Euphrates Rivers.

““Cross Roads of the World”Cross Roads of the World”

Connects the land routes for 3 continents: Africa, Connects the land routes for 3 continents: Africa, Asia and Europe.Asia and Europe.

Problems in MesopotamiaProblems in Mesopotamia No one culture controlled No one culture controlled

area (War)area (War) Unpredictable floods Unpredictable floods

(draught or damage)(draught or damage) Few Natural Resources for Few Natural Resources for

building a civilization building a civilization Few natural barriers to Few natural barriers to

protect from invasion. (The protect from invasion. (The area was frequently overrun area was frequently overrun by invaders.)by invaders.)HERODOTUS (484?-425? BC)

World Map

Sumerians 4000BC-2350 BCSumerians 4000BC-2350 BCFirst Civilization First Civilization

1. City-State1. City-State-a large town or city and the -a large town or city and the surrounding countryside surrounding countryside cooperating as its own nation cooperating as its own nation

A. Constantly at war with each otherA. Constantly at war with each other

2. Empire 2. Empire – Many city-states – Many city-states and cultures conquered and and cultures conquered and controlled by one ruler controlled by one ruler

Sumerian GovernmentSumerian Government1.1. Theocracy –Theocracy –

1.1. Priests ruled because they could Priests ruled because they could control the godscontrol the gods

2.2. Dynasty Dynasty 2.2. Military leaders were often given power Military leaders were often given power

during time of warduring time of war

3.3. Eventually, they would replace priests and Eventually, they would replace priests and pass their power onto their own heirs, pass their power onto their own heirs, creating a dynastycreating a dynasty

Sumerian ReligionSumerian Religion

2.2. ZigguratZiggurat- the home or - the home or temple of the god of the city, temple of the god of the city, believed to be a ladder to the believed to be a ladder to the heavensheavens

a)a) PolytheismPolytheismb)b) Gods and goddesses ruled Gods and goddesses ruled

the earth and determined the earth and determined the fate of individuals and the fate of individuals and citiescities

c)c) Sumerians feared their Sumerians feared their godsgods

d)d) Gods sent floods or famineGods sent floods or famine

Sumerian LanguageSumerian Language

3.3. CuneiformCuneiform- system of - system of writing using wedge-like writing using wedge-like shapesshapes

a)a) First language that First language that moves away from the moves away from the use of pictogramsuse of pictograms

b)b) Scribes wrote down Scribes wrote down laws, treaties, business laws, treaties, business transactions and transactions and religious textsreligious texts

c)c) Schools were set up for Schools were set up for boysboys

Sumerian AccomplishmentsSumerian Accomplishments

Cultural Diffusion – process in which a new idea or product spreads Cultural Diffusion – process in which a new idea or product spreads from one culture to anotherfrom one culture to another

First people know to use the wheel, arches, ramp and inclined walksFirst people know to use the wheel, arches, ramp and inclined walks Developed a 12 month calendarDeveloped a 12 month calendar Arithmetic based on the number 60, seconds, minutes and 360 Arithmetic based on the number 60, seconds, minutes and 360

degrees in a circledegrees in a circle

Back

Herodotus’ World MapHerodotus’ World Map

““Civilization in Mesopotamia”Civilization in Mesopotamia”

Read the short article Read the short article Complete the graphic organizer on the back Complete the graphic organizer on the back

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