1 / 19

Ancient Civilizations

Ancient Civilizations. Mesopotamia. The Start of Mesopotamia. Early humans traveled to find food When food became scarce, they moved As they moved they followed the coasts/rivers, to be close to water Soon they traveled through the area of the Middle East (5000 BCE)

frisco
Télécharger la présentation

Ancient Civilizations

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Ancient Civilizations Mesopotamia

  2. The Start of Mesopotamia • Early humans traveled to find food • When food became scarce, they moved • As they moved they followed the coasts/rivers, to be close to water • Soon they traveled through the area of the Middle East (5000 BCE) • Found a very fertile area known as the “Fertile Crescent” • Present day Iraq • Area was fertile due to 2 major rivers that emptied into the Persian Gulf

  3. Geography of Mesopotamia

  4. Characteristics of Fertile Crescent • Two major rivers • Euphrates to the West • Tigris to the East • Area between named Mesopotamia (c. 3100-529 BCE) • Comes from Greek term meaning “between the rivers” • Many small cities form close to the Persian Gulf • They later spread further away due to growing populations

  5. Importance of Geography • One of the earliest known cities-states: Sumer (2900 BCE) • City-states- an area that was ruled like separate states • Early example of an advanced civilization • Strong government, laws, economy • Rivers provided only real water to Sumer • Positives • Fertile land allowed crops to grow • Deposited silt- rich soil from bottom of riverbeds • Negatives • Rivers flooded unpredictably; thousands died • Area of Sumer was small (size of Massachusetts) • Area lacked other vital natural resources

  6. Discussion • What technology did the Sumerians utilize that would help lessen the negative consequences discussed previously?

  7. Importance of Geography • Problem Solving at Its Best • People of Sumer utilized new technologies • Dug irrigation canals to control water • Also spread the amount of farmable land • Built walls to protect the cities from invaders • Traded for resources needed w/ other cities • Traded grain and cloth for wood, metal, and tools

  8. River Silt and Irrigation Canals River silt left behind after a flood Irrigation canal from the rivers

  9. Sumerian Cities • All cities had their own governments and rulers • Ur- the most powerful Sumerian city • Sophisticated city w/ rigid social classes • Buildings made of clay bricks • Regular houses were boxlike w/ no windows • Rich houses were two levels w/ courtyard

  10. Examples of Ur Housing

  11. Economy of Sumerian Cities • Economy based of Agriculture • Grain would be traded for other goods • Traded for tools, metals, and wood • Marketplace- most important area • Used for trading of goods • Called a bazaar or open air market • Barter –A system of trade in which one good is traded for another

  12. Sumerian Religion • Sumerian Religion • Polytheism- belief in multiple gods • Ziggurat- main religious building (temple) • Usually protected by wall • Served many purposes • Store grain, ceremonies, sacrifices • Priests held high power in society • Initially had all power until more wars broke out and military leaders took over

  13. Sumerian Politics/Culture • Led to dynasties • A succession of rulers from the same family. • Society had rigid social classes • Little Social mobility • Priests and Kings – upper class • Merchants/ Artisans – upper middle class • Farmers/ Laborers – lower middle class • Slaves- (usually POWs, not race based) • Women held some rights in society • Able to own land, enter low priesthood • Could not write; suggests no education

  14. Sumerian Science & Tech • Sumerians known for 4 major inventions • The wheel • The sail • Both aid in travel and trade; make them faster • The plow • The Harness • Created calendars • Counting/ number system from 0 – 60 • First to use Bronze- the Bronze Age • Created cuneiform • Writing system of pressing into clay • Used pictographs – picture=words • Stylus- small tool for writing • Ziggurat

  15. Early Mesopotamian Conquerors • Religious leaders held power first but wars broke out • With more wars, military leaders come to power • Eventually leaders start taking over nearby villages • Leads to the beginning of empires and empire building • Empire-many areas under the rule of one leader • First Empire builder- Sargon of Akkad • Takes power over Sumer • Came from the city of Akkad • Adopted many of the Sumerian practices and beliefs • Sargon dynasty unifies Sumer from 2340 – 2125 BCE • Becomes the first time Sumer was unified • Expands empire from north of Sumer to Persian Gulf

  16. Discussion • Why did Sargon adopt much of the Sumerian culture?

  17. New Group & Leader Come to Power • Empire of Sargon begins to weaken • Amorites take power of Sumer around 2000 BCE; later known as Babylonians • Make Babylon their capital, moved it from Ur • Still kept practices of Sumer • Babylonian Empire reaches its height under Hammurabi (1790-1750 BCE) • Best known for creating a code of law for all people • Hammurabi’s Code; based off earlier codes • First Written Law Code; posted throughout cities. • Hammurabi’s Code based on revenge • Eye for an eye, tooth for tooth • Rules applied differently to rich and poor • Religion changed under Hammurabi- Marduk main god

More Related