“THE C RADLE OF CI V IL IZATI ON”

Ancient Middle Eastern Civilizations

Middle East Map

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The Sumerians

4,000 B.C. to 2,300 B.C.Known as the first civilization of

MesopotamiaHighly regarded for it’s many ‘firsts’ and

ancient buildingsArea is eventually conquered and divided

Sumerian Culture is the foundation

Babylonia in the south and Assyria in the north

Land And Geography

Approximately 5500 years ago in what is today the southern part of Iraq a civilization was founded

The Tigris and Euphrates Rivers are the main features of the fertile crescent or Mesopotamia

Mesopotamia” in Greek means “the land between the 2 rivers”

Waters flood down off the mountains in Turkey to flood the land

Challenges of the land

Unpredictable floodingBuild dams and canals for irrigationArid environmentValley is open to invaders

History is riddled with conquering groups settling the area

Bell work

Name one nickname for Mesopotamia.What does the word Mesopotamia mean?What was the name of the first civilization in

the region?What two rivers are vital to the region?

Use your notes from Tuesday.

Section Reading

In your rows, you will read one topic from chapter 2, section 3 pg. 30-34. Summarize the key information in a short bullet point list. Make your own list and than meet with your row. Put on the board when finished.

Sumerian writingArchitecture and scienceGovernment and SocietyFarming and TradeEducation and religion

Sumerian Cities and Society Society is made up of

individual City-States •Everybody lived in the city •Populations: 10,000-50,000+ •Walled enclosures •Surrounded by suburban

villages •Market center for region •Ceremonial center

Upper: High Priests, Rulers

Middle: Lower priests,

merchants, traders, scribes

Lower: Farmers, peasants,

Slaves

Ur- largestAncient city

Farming and trade are the basisof the economy.

Religion Government

“Polytheistic” meaning that they believed in many gods

They also believed their gods punished people who angered them

They made sure to take care of their gods by feeding them daily and cleaning them

Main god was Anu-God of Heaven, father of the Gods

•Simple and fatalistic•Gods controlled all•No free will•Humans to please godsGods guard each city,

lower gods watch out for people

Government is control by the priests and powerful warlords

Religion and Government

The Famous Ziggurats

Writing System Other achievements

Develop the first system of writing known as Cuneiform

Used Pictographs on clay tablets

Record history, transactions, religion, for education

Used personal cylinder seals to sign documents

Invent the first wheel, carts Bronze weapons Medicines Domesticate many animals Control flood waters, irrigation Develop the arch- covered structure

over an opening Lunar Calendar Advanced math-360 degree circle,

number system based on 60,(60 minutes, 60 seconds)

Established trade to Asia First Legal System Wrote epic stories and poems Pottery wheel Musical instruments(lyre, drums, reed

pipes)

Achievements

Assignment

Page 34Use the pyramid in question 2 to structure an

essay similar to the one in question 4.Write an essay that persuaders readers the

Sumerians created an important and successful civilization.

Use your notes and the book Chapter 2, Section 3 pages 30-34 as a resource for writing your essay.

The Babylonians

Around 2000 B.C. the Babylonians conquered what was ancient Sumer

Culture very similar to Sumerians, except women have far more rights in Babylonian society

1792 B.C. a Babylonian ruler named Hammurabi came to power

Conquered by the Hittites around 1600 B.C.

The Code Of Hammurabi Created by Hammurabi

himself to bring order and justice to his empire

282 laws recorded on stones tablets for all to read

Established the “rule of law”, all people equal before the law(punishments differ for social class)

Presumption of Innocence Both parties can provide

evidence Jury trail Punishments are “eye for an

eye”

196. If a man put out the eye of another man, his eye shall be put out

3. If any one bring an accusation of any crime before the elders, and does not prove what he has charged, he shall, if it be a capital offense charged, be put to death.

If any one steal the property of a temple or of the court, he shall be put to death, and also the one who receives the stolen thing from him shall be put to death.

Code of Hammurabi Assignment

In a group of 3 or 4, you have been tasked to create a set of laws and punishments for you civilizations legal system.

Create 10 laws and punishments in your society

Have a list of behaviors or actions which are not illegal

Explain briefly, how does your justice system work? Judges? Juries? Presumption of innocence? Lawyers? Police?

Mesopotamian CivilizationsCivilization(people)

3 facts

1. Sumerians4000 BC-2300 BC2. Babylonians2000 BC-1600 BC3. Hittites1600BC-1200 BC

4. Assyrians900 BC-650 BC

5. Chaldeans625 BC-539 BC

6. Persian Empire539 BC-331 BC

1. Culture similar to Sumerian2. Women had more rights(more jobs, property

rights)3. Code of Hammurabi-Harsh punishments

1. Iron weapons-Warlike people2. From Asia Minor (Modern Turkey)3. Fines for small crimes4. Ruled by Chief-Priests1. Conquered Mesopotamia, Egypt, Palestine(Israel),

Syria2. Warlike, Effective Warriors- Standing army, Chariots,

Calvary, Brutal tactics-Kill and enslave populations, loot and destroy

3. 3. Effective large government-Monarchy4. Nineveh captial- 70 foot walls, 7.5 miles, massive

library5. The Epic of Gilgamesh1. Ruled by King Nebuchadnezzar-exiled the Jews2. Rebuilt Babylon3. Hanging Gardens- One of the 7 wonders4. Skilled astronomers, mathematicians, tower of Babel

Bell work

1. What traits make a great leader?

2. How can one successful govern over a large area and a diverse group of people?

Persian Empire Reading Questions

Use both handouts the book (pg.39) to answer the following questions:

1. At it’s height, what area did the Persian empire cover?2. List 3 reasons Cyrus was a great leader.3. What were ‘The king’s eyes and ears’?4. What two tools helped to keep the empire together?5. Identify and explain the Persian religion.6. What religion does the Persian’s influence?7. How does the Persian empire fall?8. What do the quotes about Cyrus tell you about how

others viewed him?

Persian Empire

550 BC- 331 BCLargest the world had

seen at its timeLed by Cyrus the GreatConnected empire

through roads(royal road) and trade

Allow conquered peoples to keep religion and culture, freed the Jews

Zoroastrianism

Video Summary/ Review Assignment

List 5 things you learned about the Persian Empire.

Review Chapter 2, section 4 with the worksheet. (Due Friday)

Egyptian Poster Project

Form a group of 4 Before we make the poster we must first gather

informationUse your book to complete the worksheet on the

Egyptians, take your notes on your assigned topic(Chapter 2, section 1 and 2)

Review the Ancient Egypt power point on my website for additional information

Once you have all of your information you can start on your poster

50 point project- you will be graded on the content of your material, quality of the final poster, use of time, and group cooperation

Egyptian Poster Project

Egypt map

Geography

Architecture - Pyramids Religion-

Mummificatiton

History-3 Kingdoms-

Decline

Government -

Leaders

Science-Math-Writing

Economy- Daily Life – Social Class