Sumerian Civilization

Bellwork 11-10The most important Egyptian god was ____________, the god of the sun. : 

Bellwork 11-10The most important Egyptian god was ____________, the god of the sun. Osirus Ra Ka Scarab beetles

Sumerian Civilization : 

Sumerian Civilization Chapter 2, Section 3

Objectives : 

Objectives How did geographic features influence the civilizations of the Fertile Crescent? What were the main features of Sumerian civilization? What advances in learning did the Sumerians make?

The Geography : 

The Geography Unlike Egypt, this area was not geographically isolated. Wave upon wave of invaders crisscrossed the land. This fertile land begins at the Isthmus of Suez an arcs through Southwest Asia

The Geography : 

The Geography We call this area of land the Fertile Crescent.... and NO, that is not a breakfast sandwich! Aka: Mesopotamia- “Land between the Rivers.” Also known as Sumeria and Babylonia. Like the other civilizations we have studied thus far, their society was built around the cooperation necessary to control flood waters and irrigate fields The major geographical features of the area are the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers.

The Geography : 

The Geography The Fertile Crescent is the fertile land between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. The first civilization in the Fertile Crescent was discovered in Mesopotamia, which means land between the rivers The first Sumerian cities emerged in southern Mesopotamia around 3200 B.C. 3

Slide 12: 

7. As with the Nile Valley, the Fertile Crescent was surrounded by dry lands and mountains. 8. Tribes of wandering herders lived off the grasses and other plant life there. 9. Waves of invaders conquering one another set the pattern that makes the history of the Fertile Crescent.

Tigris Now : 

Tigris Now

Tigris Now : 

Tigris Now

Euphrates now : 

Euphrates now

Euphrates Now : 

Euphrates Now

Sumerian Civilization : 

17. Worshiped many gods. 18. Believed gods controlled every aspect of life. 19.Saw afterlife as a grim place. Everybody would go into darkness and eat dust. 20. To keep the gods happy, each city built a ziggurat, or pyramid temple. 14. Each state had distinct social hierarchy, or system of ranks. 15. Most people were peasant farmers. 16. Women had legal rights; some engaged in trade and owned property. 10. City-states with hereditary rulers. 12. Ruler led army in war and enforced laws. 13. Complex government with scribes to collect taxes and keep records. RELIGION SOCIAL STRUCTURE GOVERNMENT Sumerian Civilization 3

Ziggurats : 

Ziggurats

Ziggurats : 

Ziggurats

Sumerian Advances in Learning : 

Sumerian Advances in Learning 21. Developed cuneiform, - wedge shaped writing believed to be the earliest form of writing. 3

Cuneiform : 

Cuneiform

Writing: Cuneiform : 

Writing: Cuneiform Cuneiform Cylinder of Nabopolassar Recording Repair of the City Wall of Babylon

Deciphering Cuneiform : 

Deciphering Cuneiform 1835: Henry Rawlinson, an English army officer, found some inscriptions on a cliff at Behistun in Persia. Carved in the reign of King Darius of Persia (522-486 BC), they consisted of identical texts in three languages: Old Persian, Babylonian and Elamite.

Sumerian Advances in Learning : 

Sumerian Advances in Learning 22. Developed basic algebra and geometry. 23. Made accurate calendars, essential to a farming society. 24. Made the first wheeled vehicles.

Sumerian Advances in Learning : 

Sumerian Advances in Learning 25. Architecture and science- developed the arch- a curved structure over an opening. 26. large temples called ziggurats built of clay brick. 27. Developed number system based on 60- divided a circle into 360 degrees, minutes, and seconds.

Section 3 Assessment : 

Section 3 Assessment The Fertile Crescent was the land located a) along the Nile river. b) between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. c) between the Euphrates and the Nile rivers. d) between the Tigris and the Nile rivers. Most people in Sumerian city-states were a) priests. b) merchants. c) scribes. d) peasant farmers. 3

Section 3 Assessment : 

3 The Fertile Crescent was the land located a) along the Nile river. b) between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. c) between the Euphrates and the Nile rivers. d) between the Tigris and the Nile rivers. Most people in Sumerian city-states were a) priests. b) merchants. c) scribes. d) peasant farmers. Section 3 Assessment Want to connect to the World History link for this section? Click Here.