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Indo-European Migrations: 4m-2m BCE
The Middle East: “The Crossroads of Three Continents”
The Ancient Fertile Crescent Area
The Middle East: “The Cradle of Civilization”
The Fertile Crescent
• Nomadic herders, ambitious invaders, and traders
easily overcame the few natural barriers across the
Fertile Crescent.
• -As a result, the region became a crossroads where
people and ideas met and mingled
• -Each new group that came, made its own
contributions to the region.
Sumerians
Sumer
• The Sumerians were
polytheistic, what does this
mean???
The First Cities
• Sumerian cities were often rectangular in shape
surrounded by high, wide walls
• -the
largest buildings were ziggurats
which were pyramid temples that
soared towards the heavens.
• -Rulers lived in magnificent palaces with spacious
courtyards
• -most people lived in tiny houses
The Sumerian city-state of Ur contained an enormous
mountain temple, known as a ziggurat, to honor the moongod, Nanna.
Sumerian Religion - Polytheistic
Enki
Innana
Anthropomorphic Gods
Mesopotamian Trade
“The Cuneiform World”
Cuneiform: “Wedge-Shaped” Writing
Cuneiform Writing
Deciphering Cuneiform
Sumerian Scribes
“Tablet House”
Sumerian Cylinder Seals
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Gilgamesh
Gilgamesh Epic Tablet:
Flood Story
Ziggurat at Ur
 Temple
 “Mountain of
the Gods”
Mesopotamian Harp
Government
• Sumer included many independent citystates
• City-State A city state was sovereign,
although many cities were joined in
formal or informal leagues under a high
king.
• war leaders usually turned into rulers
Board Game From Ur
Sophisticated Metallurgy Skills
at Ur