Sumerian Civilization

The Land

Fertile Crescent (p. 30) Land between the Tigris

and Euphrates is called Mesopotamia

Flooding occurred often, but could not be predicted Used irrigation to get water

to crops

Fertile Crescent

Surrounded by dry lands and mountains Deserts not as barren as those

surrounding Egypt What might this mean for

people living in the area? Constant Cycle

Invasion after invasion

Sumer

SE section of Fertile Crescent Very fertile near the Persian

Gulf Over time, a Sumerian culture

was created Writings

Pictographs- one of the earliest forms of writing

Cuneiform- Sumerian writing developed from pictographs

Achievements of the Sumerians

Architecture Arches Ziggurats- often served

religious purposes Science

Wheel Divided a circle into 360

degrees Separated each degree

into 60 min. 60 sec. Lunar calendar

Sumerian Society

City-state Included the town or city

and the surrounding land it controlled

Sumer contained many city-states

Ur, Erech, and Kish Rarely united under a

single government

Sumerian Society

King

High Priests and Nobles

Lower priests, merchants, and scholars

Peasant farmers

Slaves kidnapped or captured during war

Sumerian Society Farming

Most Sumerians were farmers, but they grew enough food to allow others to work as artisans or traders

Education Upper-class boys attended

school Religion

Polytheists An-Lord of Heaven Enlil-God of air and storms Enki- God of water and

wisdom

Empires of the Fertile Crescent

Sumerians 5000 B.C.-2330 B.C.

Akkadians Babylonians

1792 B.C.-1155 B.C. Hittites

1600 B.C.-1200 B.C. Assyrians

1300’s B.C.-612 B.C. Chaldeans

612 B.C.-539 B.C. Persians

539 B.C.-331 B.C.

Akkadians

2330 B.C.-1792 B.C. Sargon

Most powerful Akkadian king

Ruled from 2334 B.C.-2279 B.C.

Established a great empire

See p. 35

Babylonians

1792 B.C.-1155 B.C. Hammurabi

Strong ruler Code of Hammurabi

282 laws Eye for an eye See quote p. 36

Punishments were different for the rich

Adopted much of the culture of the Sumerians

Believed priests could see the future

Activity Split into 4 groups Decide whether you are in favor or against the strict Code of Hammurabi and explain why in AT LEAST 5 sentences Everyone should contribute their ideas Below are a few more laws taken from the Code

195. If a son strike his father, his hands shall be hewn off. 196. If a man put out the eye of another man, his eye shall be put out. 197. If he break another man's bone, his bone shall be broken. 198. If he put out the eye of a freed man, or break the bone of a freed man, he shall pay one gold mina. 199. If he put out the eye of a man's slave, or break the bone of a man's slave, he shall pay one-half of its value. 200. If a man knock out the teeth of his equal, his teeth shall be knocked out.

Hittites

1600 B.C.-1200 B.C. Hittite Law

Only harsh crimes received the death penalty

Most crimes required fines to be paid

Conquered Babylon Too far from home to control

it permanently One of the first groups to

smelt iron Weakened after invasions

by Sea Peoples

Assyrians

1300’s B.C.-612 B.C. See map on p. 37 Fierce Warriors

Chariots Cavalry-first to use this

method Used terror to control enemies

Epic of Gilgamesh- 6 min Nineveh was the capital

Built huge wall for protection 7.5 miles around and over 70

feet high

Assyrians cont.

Governance One of the first groups to

effectively govern a large empire

King ruled all Local governors ruled

conquered lands and reported to the king

Civil War broke out in 635 B.C. Weakened Assyria could

not resist invasion by the Chaldeans and the Medes

Chaldeans

612 B.C.-539 B.C. Nebuchadnezzar

Governed the rebuilt city of Babylon from 605 B.C.-562 B.C.

Read about the Hanging Gardens p. 38

Achievements Skilled astronomers and

mathematicians Calculated the length of a

year with great accuracy Predicted eclipses

Persians

539 B.C.-331 B.C. Cyrus the Great

Rebelled and conquered the Medes

Expanded the empire Darius the Great and his

son, Xerxes I Expanded the empire even

more Mightiest empire in history

up to that time See map p. 39

Persians

Effective, fair rulers Allowed conquered peoples

to keep religions and laws Secret Agents were, “The

King’s Eyes and Ears” No one knew who these

people were, so it helped keep regional governors and leaders in check

Roads- The Royal Road Connected the entire empire Increased transportation

and trade

Persians

Religion-Polytheistic until 600 B.C.

Zoroaster- changed the religious outlook Life on Earth was training for

future life Struggle of good vs. evil

Those who choose good will be rewarded, while those choosing evil will be punished

Influenced Judaism and Christianity Good vs. Evil and Final

Judgement

Fall of the Persians

Later kings lacked leadership abilities

331 B.C. Persian army defeated by

Alexander the Great

A.D. 226 Revived for a time by ruler

named Ardashir Also brought back

Zoroastrianism

Activity

Complete the chart below 12 points Cons include elements that led to the empire’s downfall

Empire Pros Cons

Akkadians

Babylonians

Hittites

Assyrians

Chaldeans

Persians