Civilization in the Fertile Crescent

Civilized History begins here area between Tigris & Euphrates Rivers

Does not signify a particular people!

Very different from Egypt

Strongly influenced development

Dominated by two rivers No natural barriers

Invaders not kept out

City-State Basic political unit of 4th & 3rd Mil.

Came from Asia in 3500 BC City & land just around it Ur, Eridu, Uruk main ones Distrustful & jealous b/c of trade rights & land ownership

On Persian Gulf now 150 mi . inland (siltation)

Polytheistic - belief in many gods 3,000 gods & goddesses People never sure how gods will act

Ziggurat Temple dedicated to chief god or goddess of a city-state

Most prominent building

Theocracy Govt. by divine authority

Early on priest important in ruling

Later, kings believed the agent of gods

Cuneiform - writing system On hand-sized clay tablets Wedge-shaped poke marks For record-keeping

Scribes - record keepers Important in society

Epic of Gilgamesh - 1st epic poem

City-states fought among themselves to control land & water

And were also invaded by outside groups Because of lack of barriers Conflict among Sumerians eventually led to Sumer’s demise

Akkadians In 2300 B.C. Led by Sargon 1st empire in world history

Large state under 1 leader controlling many peoples and territories of different geography

Babylon 1792 B.C. Led by Hammurabi powerful leader creates new kingdom in area Creates law code

Collection of laws Strict justice Severe penalties:

Depending on your social class

“an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth” important part of system

1st 12 month calendar 1st study of stars

identified 5 planets Divided day into two groups of 12

hrs. Number system based on 60 Wheel(for pottery & carts), Sail (boat), Arch, Math, etc.

Civilization in the Fertile Crescent

This lesson is working toward fulfilling the following learning targets: 1. I know the differences between

monotheism and polytheism. 2. I can define cultural diffusion as it

relates to the sharing of cultures. 3. I can explain how writing changed

communication in Mesopotamia and Egypt.

Fertile Crescent Mesopotamia Tigris River Euphrates River Sumer Ur and Uruk

City-state Social stratification Hierarchy Polytheism Cuneiform ziggurats

Fertile Crescent: region of the Middle East named for its rich soils and wheat fields Curves from Persian Gulf to the eastern

Mediterranean Sea Mesopotamia: “between the rivers;” name

given to the Fertile Crescent by the Greeks Between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers

Home of one of the world’ first civilization, the

Sumerians of Sumer

Irrigation: Key to development in the Fertile Crescent =

controlling the rivers! Floods ruined many villages and fields, so the

Sumerians built dikes and irrigation ditches Building:

Built using clay and water Helped them develop the first cities, Ur and Uruk

Trade: Goods from Egypt and India have been found in

Sumerian cities

5 city-states (self-governing society) in which the ruler was responsible for: Maintaining the city, leading armies in war,

enforcing laws, collecting taxes, and keeping records

Ruler also leader of ceremonies for the gods Social stratification: society divided

into distinct classes Hierarchy: system of ranking groups

Polytheistic: worshipping multiple gods Believed the gods controlled every aspect of life

Believed in 3,000+ gods Ziggurat: large, stepped platform in each Sumerian

city meant to honor the city’s chief god or goddess Cuneiform: earliest form of writing, invented

by the Sumerians System of symbols to represent complicated

thoughts Wrote on clay tablets with a stylus Students of cuneiform could be caned for talking in

class or writing sloppily

Hittites, Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians, & Phoenicians

The Hittites came from Asia Minor into Mesopotamia in 1400 BC

Brought 1 major advancement: Could extract iron from ore Tried to keep their knowledge a secret Were able to arm more people at less

expense than with copper or bronze Responsible for the beginning of the IRON

AGE

Assyrians lived in the upper Tigris region Established an empire in 1350 BC and

expanded across Mesopotamia Reputation: most feared warriors in

history! Built beautiful palaces & created well-

organized cities Created laws regulating life inside the royal

household Kept a library of cuneiform records from all

over the Fertile Crescent

Nebuchadnezzar: 2nd king of Babylon Expanded the Babylonian empire to cover all

of Mesopotamia Ruthless & aggressive leader Rebuilt the city of Babylon into one of the

largest and most respected cities of Ancient Mesopotamia

Defensive moat, brick wall that was 85 ft. thick, 9 gateways, canals, temples, walls, and palaces

Ishtar Gate “Hanging Gardens” – one of the “7 wonders of the

Ancient World”

Name given to the crescent shaped fertile region of modern day Israel, Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey, Syria, and Iraq.

Mesopotamia (land between the rivers) Low lying region between the Tigris and

Euphrates Rivers Provide irrigation, flooding, etc.

• Arrive in Mesopotamia around 3,500 BC/BCE from Asia Minor

• Establish city-states by 3,000 BC (Ur, Uruk, and Eridu)

• Each city-state had a ziggurat and an independent government

• Evolve into military rule for protection from invaders

• By 2,700 most city-states were run by theocratic monarchies (kings were the military advisor, priest, and law makers)

• Patriarchal• Could sell family

to pay off debts• Invented

calendar• Polytheistic

– Gods powerful, anthropomorphic, selfish, and unpredictable

Anu – sky god, god of heaven, king of gods

• Cuneiform (“wedge-shaped”)

• Began as symbols, written on clay tablets

• Had over 2,000 characters

• Could learn cuneiform in schools called eddubas

• Allowed for the writing of the oldest story in history: _____________

King of Uruk around 2600 BC

Described as 2/3 god, 1/3 human

• Sargon I (an Akkadian)• A herder who moved

through ranks to become ruler of Akkad (northern Mesopotamia) in 2,300 BC

• United all Mesopotamian city-states

• His empire was the first in history

• His son was unsuccessful = Akkadian rule declined

People of western Syria Used military strength to control the

region Called the region Babylon King Hammurabi used his strength and

power to unite Mesopotamia under his control

Reorganized tax system Rebuilt irrigation canals Made Babylon a major

trade center Increased the economic

prosperity of his people Organized a strong

government

Code of Hammurabi 282 law codes Specific guidelines with

corresponding punishments Penalized wrongdoers more

severely than previous Sumerian laws

“Eye for an eye” mentality After Hammurabi’s death, the

Babylonian Empire declined and Mesopotamia was divided into small states