Mesopotamia Notes

By: Miss K. Rice

• So who were these first people So who were these first people considered to be the world’s first:considered to be the world’s first:

Civilizations have: Cities, organized governments, art, religion, writing system

• They were the:They were the:

• Turkey & the Arabian PeninsulaTurkey & the Arabian Peninsula

Turkey

Arabian

Peninsula

• Migrated by following their food supply Migrated by following their food supply and looking for a nicer climate in which to and looking for a nicer climate in which to live live (NOMADS)(NOMADS)

• 3500 BCE3500 BCE

• In Southern MesopotamiaIn Southern Mesopotamia

• What did they look like:What did they look like:– A written description:A written description:

• ShortShort

• StockyStocky

• Black- hairedBlack- haired

Who can draw

the best of them all ????

Warm Up!!!Warm Up!!!

1.1. On a blank piece of paper, write out On a blank piece of paper, write out your answer….your answer….

A. A. Imagine that you are a king/queen Imagine that you are a king/queen of a very large empire. How will of a very large empire. How will you keep your citizens safe and you keep your citizens safe and comfortable? How will you keep comfortable? How will you keep order, pay for things, etc.?order, pay for things, etc.?

• The main Sumerian occupation was:The main Sumerian occupation was:

• Revolution – a series of changes that Revolution – a series of changes that greatly affects many areas of life.greatly affects many areas of life.

• Farming spread throughout the world Farming spread throughout the world between 7000-2000 B.C.E. between 7000-2000 B.C.E.

• Farming caused people to stay close to Farming caused people to stay close to their fields.their fields.

• Villages grew.Villages grew.

• How did the Sumerians accomplish the feat of How did the Sumerians accomplish the feat of being able to farm the land?being able to farm the land?

• Changing the environment

• Irrigation

• Levees

• Animal Husbandry (taming animals to use for labor & food)

Domestic AnimalsDefinitely Not Domestic!

• # 1 Crop – Barley# 1 Crop – Barley

• WheatWheat

• SesameSesame

• Date PalmsDate Palms

• Different VegetablesDifferent Vegetables

• Fruit TreesFruit Trees

• As Sumerian farming became successful As Sumerian farming became successful there was more availablethere was more available

• Their because Their because

of the of the

• As the worlds population increases, so As the worlds population increases, so does specialization.does specialization.

• CraftspeopleCraftspeople

• Toolmakers – Toolmakers – – Ex. Sickle makes harvesting crops easier & Ex. Sickle makes harvesting crops easier &

Faster!Faster!

• What do the Sumerians need for a bigger What do the Sumerians need for a bigger population?population?

–Organization and to keep orderOrganization and to keep order

• What do the Sumerians need for a bigger What do the Sumerians need for a bigger population?population?

and many of them = Cities

• Self-Sufficient!Self-Sufficient!

1.1. Brick wall with bronze gate (closes at Brick wall with bronze gate (closes at night for protection)night for protection)

2.2. Narrow winding streetsNarrow winding streets3.3. Lower Class = unskilled workers (usually Lower Class = unskilled workers (usually

live by fishing) & farmers live by fishing) & farmers

4.4. Middle Class= artisans (shop keepers, Middle Class= artisans (shop keepers, carpenters, government officials, etc.)carpenters, government officials, etc.)

5.5. Upper Class = Merchants & Priests Upper Class = Merchants & Priests

6.6. Ziggurat = TempleZiggurat = Temple

• Women = owned by the menWomen = owned by the men

•Wealthy = especially priest own all the Wealthy = especially priest own all the land and have conflict with kings once kings land and have conflict with kings once kings are establishedare established

•Serfs & Slaves = majority of the populationSerfs & Slaves = majority of the population Do all the Manual LaborDo all the Manual Labor

• MalesMales– Sun up to sun down Sun up to sun down – EncouragedEncouraged– FailuresFailures

Objective for the day!Objective for the day!

•City-statesCity-states

•ReligionReligion

•It’s a birthday! Let’s It’s a birthday! Let’s celebrate!!!celebrate!!!

• Ziggurats Ziggurats – Hill of HeavenHill of Heaven– Mountain of GodMountain of God

•Over 3,000 GodsOver 3,000 Gods

•PriestPriest - Lots of power- Lots of power - Control who gets land- Control who gets land

• Did priests ever go to war? Did priests ever go to war?

• War broke out and the people needed a War broke out and the people needed a stronger leader than the priestsstronger leader than the priests

• Became Became HEREDITARY!HEREDITARY!