Mesopotamia: The Fertile Crescent. Fertile Crescent ◊Fertile Crescent = moon-shaped strip of land from the Mediterranean Sea to the Persian Gulf that.

Mesopotamia:The Fertile Crescent

Mesopotamia:The Fertile Crescent

Fertile CrescentFertile Crescent

◊ Fertile Crescent = moon-shaped strip of land from the Mediterranean Sea to the Persian Gulf that is excellent farm land• Located in modern-

day Middle East

◊ Fertile Crescent = moon-shaped strip of land from the Mediterranean Sea to the Persian Gulf that is excellent farm land• Located in modern-

day Middle East

MesopotamiaMesopotamia

◊ Mesopotamia = located within the Fertile Crescent, between the Tigris & Euphrates Rivers• Rivers were NOT a reliable

source of water (unlike the Nile)

• Ran dry in summer; flooded in spring

• Villages joined together to build dams, canals, and ditches

◊ Mesopotamia = located within the Fertile Crescent, between the Tigris & Euphrates Rivers• Rivers were NOT a reliable

source of water (unlike the Nile)

• Ran dry in summer; flooded in spring

• Villages joined together to build dams, canals, and ditches

The Sumerian CivilizationThe Sumerian Civilization

◊ People from Asia arrived in Mesopotamia

◊ Formed 12 city-states = the city and the land surrounding it• Considered the world’s

1st cities◊ Created ziggurats =

stepped pyramids with a temple at the top

◊ People from Asia arrived in Mesopotamia

◊ Formed 12 city-states = the city and the land surrounding it• Considered the world’s

1st cities◊ Created ziggurats =

stepped pyramids with a temple at the top

The Sumerian CivilizationThe Sumerian Civilization◊ Sumerians shared common

culture, language, and religion◊ City-states governed themselves◊ Were theocracies = kings served

as both government leaders AND high priests

◊ Laws regulated the roles of women & men men had far more rights

◊ Sumerians shared common culture, language, and religion

◊ City-states governed themselves◊ Were theocracies = kings served

as both government leaders AND high priests

◊ Laws regulated the roles of women & men men had far more rights


◊ Cuneiform = Sumerian system of writing• The

symbols represented complex ideas

◊ Cuneiform = Sumerian system of writing• The

symbols represented complex ideas


◊ Scribes were trained to read & write documents and stories• Epic of

Gilgamesh = oldest story in the world

◊ Scribes were trained to read & write documents and stories• Epic of

Gilgamesh = oldest story in the world


◊ Practiced polytheism = belief in more than one god• Each city-state had

its own god• Negative outlook

on life and the afterlife

• Believed gods were selfish and had no regard for humans

◊ Practiced polytheism = belief in more than one god• Each city-state had

its own god• Negative outlook

on life and the afterlife

• Believed gods were selfish and had no regard for humans

Sumerian InventionsSumerian Inventions

1. Wagon Wheel2. Arch3. Potter’s Wheel4. Sundial5. 12-month

Calendar6. Metal Plow

1. Wagon Wheel2. Arch3. Potter’s Wheel4. Sundial5. 12-month

Calendar6. Metal Plow

First Mesopotamian EmpiresThe AkkadiansFirst Mesopotamian EmpiresThe Akkadians

◊ Empire under Sargon I

◊ Kingdom was called Akkad

◊ Conquered & united all of the Sumerian city-states

◊ Empire fell apart after his & his grandson’s death

◊ Empire under Sargon I

◊ Kingdom was called Akkad

◊ Conquered & united all of the Sumerian city-states

◊ Empire fell apart after his & his grandson’s death

First Mesopotamian EmpiresBabylon


◊ Ruled by Hammurabi◊ Strict Code of Laws =

Hammurabi’s greatest achievement• Rules and consequences that

addressed daily life• Law code covered entire region of

Mesopotamia• “Eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth”

type of laws• Government assumed the

responsibility of protecting its citizens• People now had laws to protect their

rights & didn’t need to resort to violence

◊ Ruled by Hammurabi◊ Strict Code of Laws =

Hammurabi’s greatest achievement• Rules and consequences that

addressed daily life• Law code covered entire region of

Mesopotamia• “Eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth”

type of laws• Government assumed the

responsibility of protecting its citizens• People now had laws to protect their

rights & didn’t need to resort to violence



◊ Social classes were similar to the Egyptians, but they had far more slaves

◊ Hammurabi’s empire fell apart after his death

◊ Social classes were similar to the Egyptians, but they had far more slaves

◊ Hammurabi’s empire fell apart after his death

Mesopotamia: The Fertile Crescent. Fertile Crescent ◊Fertile Crescent = moon-shaped strip of land from the Mediterranean Sea to the Persian Gulf that.

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