Chapter 4: Mesopotamia Lesson 1: The Sumerians Bell Ringer What are 3 reasons early civilizations would need to invent a written form of language?

Chapter 4: Mesopotamia

Lesson 1: The Sumerians

Bell Ringer

What are 3 reasons early civilizations would need to invent a written form of

language?

The First Civilizations in Mesopotamia

Civilizations first developed around 3,000 BC in river valleys Located in Mesopotamia, Egypt, India, and

ChinaVery similar to each otherHad social classes

Depended on your occupation

Had governments Set up laws, defended the people, and built large

projects

Had values and beliefs These gave meaning to life

Two Rivers Mesopotamia- “the land between the rivers”

Was the earliest known civilization

Located between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers The Fertile Crescent

A curving strip of good farm land

Early Valley Dwellers People first settled Mesopotamia around 7,000 BC

These people were hunters and herders

By 4,000 BC they began to build farming villages

Taming the Rivers Water from the rivers was used to water their fields

Floods left behind silt – small particles of soil great for farming

Created a system of irrigation – system that supplies water to dry lands

Dug canals from the water source to their fields

Led to a surplus - extra amounts of food

Led to more trade and development of cities like Sumer

Sumer’s CivilizationPeople living here were known as SumeriansBuilt cities which became centers of

civilization

City-States AriseCity-state – a city that governs itself and its

surround territoryWere cut off from their neighbors due to harsh

landscapeHad their own governmentPopulations were between 5,000 – 20,000 peopleUsed mud to make bricks for buildingOften fought and traded with each other

Gods, Priests, and Kings Polytheism – worshipped many gods

had powers over different parts of life

Each city-state picked a god to represent them Built ziggurats – pyramid-shaped structures with a

temple at the top to honor them The top was considered a holy place

Priests were the first rulers of city-states

Monarchies developed and were run by Kings and Queens

First Kings were war heroes

Social Groups People were divided into social classes

Upper class – Kings, Priests and Warriors

Middle Class – merchants, farmers, fishers, and artisans Largest social class

Lower class – slaves Captured in war, criminals, or people in debt

Worked for the upper class

Roles of Men and Women Men went to school and trained for a specific job

Women took care of the home and children

Farmers and TradersMost people living in Sumer were

farmersGrew wheat, barley, and datesRaised sheep, goats, and pigs

Sumerians needed to trade for goods they did not haveTrade routes linked up as far away as

India and EgyptTraded for timber, minerals, and metals

Document Based Question

“To bring about the rule of righteousness in the land, to destroy the wicked and evil-doers; so that the strong should not harm the weak; so that I should rule over and enlighten the land, to further the well being of mankind.”

- Code of Hammurabi

Hammurabi was known for being a fair ruler. What does this code reveal about how he will rule the people in his kingdom?

Why does Hammurabi refer to “wicked and evil-doers”? Who are they?

Turn to Page 74 in your text books:

Look at the map and answer questions 1, 3, and 4.

Look at the timeline and place these events in order, starting with the earliest

Assyrians control Mesopotamia

Settlements develop along the Indus River

Sumerians invent cuneiform

The first Olympic Games

Sumerian Contributions Mesopotamia is considered the “Cradle of

Civilization” Beginning of organized human society

Sumer influenced many future civilizations They copied an improved on what Sumer did

Writing Most important contribution

Earliest known system in the world

Called Cuneiform – wedge shaped marks in soft clay Did not have paper

Mostly wealthy men learned how to write Became scribes – people who copy or write information for

record keeping

Wrote stories like the “Epic of Gilgamesh”

Technology and Mathematics First people to use the wheel

Built carts which were pulled by donkeys

Used carts for military called Chariots

Developed the first sailboats Traveled along the rivers

Made the first wooden plow Used for farming

First people to develop Bronze Made from copper and tin

Developed time measurement 60 seconds in a minute

60 minutes in an hour

12 month calendar based on the moon

Reflection

Choose which invention you think is the most significant and explain why you made this choice.

Write AT LEAST 5 sentences to answer this question.

Chapter 4

Lesson 2

Bell Ringer

Why do you think Hammurabi wanted to display his code of laws for his people to

see?

The First Empires Empire – a group of many different lands under one ruler By 2400 BC, Sumer had faded and powerful empires

arose

King Sargon Ruled the Kingdom of Akkad

Conquered what was left of Sumer’

Created the first empire in 2340 BC Lasted for 200 years

Hammurabi Ruled the Kingdom of Babylon

Stretched from the Persian Gulf to the Mediterranean Sea

Known for creating laws called Hammurabi’s Code “eye for an eye”

Considered a just and fair ruler

The Assyrian EmpireExisted 1,000 years after HammurabiBuilt a large and powerful military

numbered around 50,000Had cavalry, infantry, and charioteersRobbed and destroyed villagesTook tribute – forced payments from conquered peopleUsed IRON weapons

Kings and GovernmentExtended from Persian Gulf to Nile RiverCapital city was NinevehDivided into provinces – territories belonging to an

empire Connected by guarded roads

Paid taxes to the king

Life in Assyria Based on other Mesopotamian cultures

Similar laws, harsher punishments

Worshipped same gods

King Ashurbanipal built one of the first libraries Located in Nineveh

Held 25,000 tablets of stories and songs

The Chaldean Empire Took control of Babylonia by 612 BC

Rebelled against Assyrians

Led by King Nabopolassar

Burned Assyrian capital, Nineveh, to the ground

Made Babylon their new capital

Greatness of Babylon Rebuilt by King Nebuchadnezzar (Son of Nabopolassar)

Surrounded by huge brick walls

300 ft. tall ziggurat with a golden roof

Hanging Gardens of Babylon One of the 7 Ancient Wonders

Had a complex irrigation system

Located along a major trade route Caravans – group of merchants traveling together for safety

Fall of the EmpireAfter Nebuchadnezzar

Series of weak kingsPoor harvests/trade

Conquered by PersiaAllowed to keep their culture

Reflection: Why do you think ancient cities had at least one magnificent building?

Write AT LEAST 5 sentences to answer this question.

Use this example of a diagram to brainstorm types of evidence archaeologists might look for

in order to learn about life in ancient Mesopotamia.

Use this example of a diagram to list the effects of 3 major inventions during the time of these early Mesopotamian civilizations.