chapter 3 mesopotamia - carrithers...
TRANSCRIPT
Chapter 3
Mesopotamia Section I: Geography of the Fertile Crescent
Section II: The Rise of Sumer
Section Focus
Section Focus
• First major civilization was located
on Tigris & Euphrates Rivers
• Area was called Mesopotamia
– “Land between the Rivers”
– “Cradle of Civilization”
– “Fertile Crescent”
• Located in modern day Iraq
The Rise of Civilization • Annual river floods brought
silt that improved farming.
• Plentiful food led to
population growth and the
formation of villages:
– Grew wheat, barley, grain
– Raised livestock, birds, fish
• Villages later developed into the
world’s first civilizations.
Farming and Cities
• Used irrigation levees and
canals as a way to control
river flow.
• Fewer people needed to farm
because of food surplus.
• New occupations
developed and organization
was needed.
Farming and Cities
With irrigation, the people of Mesopotamia
were able to grow more food.
Later, people built canals to
protect houses from flooding
and move water to their
fields.
Early settlements in Mesopotamia were located
near rivers. Water was not controlled, and
flooding was a major problem.
• First settled area in Mesopotamia was Sumer:
– Government & Laws
– Economics
– Culture
– Religion
• Completely dependent on
rivers and land.
• Began city-states to protect land and people.
An Advanced Society
An Advanced Society • City-states are independent cities with their own
government and land.
• City-states would fight over land and religions.
An Advanced Society
Rise of the Empire • Over time different leaders
conquered region.
• First empire was created when Sargon united areas of Akkad & Sumer.
• After Sargon died people fought for power and control.
Sargon’s Empire
Religion & Society • Priests became kings of the
city-states and took control of government.
• Believed priests talked to gods which gave them a lot of power.
• Power became hereditary (passed from parent to child.)
Religion & Society • Mesopotamia had over
3000 gods (polytheistic.)
• Gods were the forces of nature
(wind, rain, floods, etc.)
• Temples called Ziggurats
were built to honor gods.
Sumerian Social Order • Priest-kings established a
social hierarchy, or ranking
system, for the people:
– Kings
– Priests
– Craftspeople
– Traders
– Farmers
– Slaves
Sumerian Social Order