mesopotamia – the fertile crescent

Mesopotamia – The Fertile Crescent“Land Between the Rivers – “Tigris and Euphrates”

BUT FIRST, in order for there to be a society at all…The Agricultural Revolution

had to take place

Transition from hunting and gathering to farming and domesticating animals.

What happens to people in terms of location? What about population wise?

GeographyLife for all humans is a battle of

resources.

In ancient times, resources were more basic.

Today resources are mostly based around $$$.

Where do people gather?(Write the underlined parts

across from Neolithic Rev. and Civilization).

People settle in RIVER VALLEYS

Why?

Flooding = silt = food

GeographyGeography always affects where and how

people lived in history.What does this structure tell us about the

geography of Mesopotamia?

Label: Use Page 38•Tigris River•Euphrates River•Fertile Crescent•Sumer•The city of Ur

What happens when people group together?Civilizations form.

Cities, governments, economies, religion, social structure (upper class + lower class), writing and intellectual knowledge, and artistic activity.

Mesopotamian CivilizationStarts in Sumer (Mesopotamia =

Sumer)

Achievements:WheelIrrigationLibrary

◦Why would books be important to a culture or civilization?

Who ruled?Monarchs, or rule by one

person.

WarfareConstant war brought many

cultures into contact.

Cultural diffusion – spreading of ideas and cultures between groups of people.

Mesopotamian City-StatesStarts in Sumer (Mesopotamia =

Sumer)

Walled Cities

Traded with Egypt and others

ReligionZiggurats built – people devoted much of

their wealth to building these temples.

Why?

Priests and priestesses held power, monarchs ruled as gods – Theocracy

Also, Mesopotamians were polytheistic, with the lone exception of the Hebrews.

Draw a simple ziggurat in your notes.

EmpiresEmpires were created by rulers

wanting more resources or land.

Sargon = first empire in history in 2340 BC.

Society/WritingSociety was patriarchal – Men are

rulers. Women are below men in the social order.

King

Priest

Common people

Common People

Priestesses

Common People

WritingCuneiform

WritingIntellectual and artistic

achievements:

◦Wheel◦Chariots ◦Irrigation systems◦Library

Why would books be important to a culture?

Check for understandingWho created the first empire in

world history?What type religion was found in

Mesopotamia?Name one example of cultural

diffusion in Mesopotamia.What is the most interesting part

of Mesopotamian culture to you? Why?

Current Events?Good ideas?

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