The Land Between Two Rivers: History of Sumerian Civilization

1. Chapter 2 Land between 2 Rivers A Sumerian student once said about his teacher “the teachers said to me there was something missing” he then hit me with a cane, he then said “you will not talk without permission and kept hitting me First Known schools were set up in the land of Sumer (soomer) many who graduated became scribes or writers and they wrote down everything (kept track of history)

2. I. Geographic Setting • Sumer was located in a region called Mesopotamia • This place drew people in due to its rich soil and large rivers • Farmers and builders wanted to settle here especially • This was centrally located in the middle of everything

4. A. Location of Mesopotamia • Then name describes its location • Mesopotamia= land between two rivers • Those rivers are the Tigris and Euphrates • This is known as the fertile crescent ???think about what this name means

5. B. Rivers of life and death • These rivers were the source of life for many • Flooding and melting down of the mountain snow rushed down the mountains and provided rich topsoil and fertilizer for farming • Rivers also provided fishing, clay for building, and tall strong reeds for twine used to build • However flooding came at unexpected times which could sweep away, kill, and destroy people, homes, and animals

6. Theses are roads This was a farm

7. II. First Cities • As Farming succeeded cities began to grow • Many different areas grew but not every city or area had same ruler??? So what does this mean???? • These were called city-states or a city that is also a separate independent state and had its own leaders

8. A. A brief tour of a Sumerian City • Filled with markets, trade centers, churches, etc… all the things we think of with an early city • Also had musicians playing music, acrobats performing, and scribes willing to write down things for those who didn’t know how… this started the idea of drawing for art and making money

9. III. Sumerian Religion • At center of city was a huge temple called the Ziggurat • All activities from religion, economics, to social events were done here • It was the place to be

10. Ziggurat’s were often temples built on top of each other with ramps built up the next level with a huge shrine at the top to praise the gods • They thought the gods descended from the heavens and used the ramps and the Ziggurat as a stairway to earth

11. Ancient Beliefs • The people of Sumer worshiped many gods and goddesses • This idea is known as Polytheism-belief in many gods Good way(our way) bad way

12. Honoring the gods • They honored gods with ceremonies filled with music, burning of incense, and huge meals afterward • But not before laying plates of food at the feet of the gods statues • They believed that it the gods didn’t eat first then the gods would send bad luck with farming and life which provided the food they ate

13. Fall of Sumer • Sumer’s wealth became its downfall • The cities in and around Sumer began to battle over the rich fertile land use and the use of the rich fertile rivers • Many rulers won and lost control, when they lost they often died so it was a major loss • Finally it was some neighboring cities that teamed up and took over Sumer and took over the most fertile land in the world • Many even say this area was personally blessed by God himself, still today its one of the best areas in the world

14. Mesopotamia Today • Also believed that Osama Bin Laden spent some time hiding out Here before caught by United States