Birthplace of civilization.
There was plenty of water
available for people.
Mesopotamia
Today the area is
called Iraq
Land between two rivers
Tigris River
Also known as
The Fertile Crescent
Euphrates River
Three things the people got from the rivers were:
Fresh water
Good soil
Fish
7- Sumerian Inventions
Calendar
Levee
Was used to predict
when the floods would come.
Dirt and mud piled up to
prevent flooding.
Agriculture
Wheel
The world’s most
important Invention.
The wheel was one
of the most
important Sumerian
inventions.
Surplus food allowed
people To do other jobs.
This helped Invention grow
and population grow.
Plow
Used to break up
the soil.
Irrigation
Irrigation was invented
to bring water to the
dry lands of Sumer.
Dates were one
of the main crops
of the Sumerians.
Cuneiform
The world’s first system
of writing.
Important People From Mesopotamia
Sargon
Hammurabi
Gilgamesh
Built the first
Akkadian Empire
in Mesopotamia.
Babylonian leader who
Invented the:
Code of Law
Religion was important
to the people of
Mesopotamia. They
practiced polytheism,
the worship of many gods
Rules for people
to follow.
Consequences if
you break the rules
Believed in DIVINE KINGSHIP:
The right to rule is god given
Gilgamesh was a character
in a Sumerian epic in which
he tries to find the key to
eternal life.
Contributions of the Different Groups in the Fertile Crescent
Assyrians
Warlike, invented
weapons and
tools from metal
Babylonians
King Nebuchadnezzar
Built a great empire.
Phoenicians
Spread ideas
and goods
around the world
with their trade.
King Hammurabi
Code of Law
Rules for people to follow
Punishment for crimes
Lydians
Invented the
Idea of using
coins for money.
Sumerians
Invented writing.
To keep track
of:
Law
Medical records
Letters
Wise Sayings
Hebrews
Abraham
Father of the Hebrews,
started Monotheism.
David
Solomon
David is the
father of Solomon.
Built the great temple to
house the Torah.
Formed the Kingdom of Israel
by uniting the tribes of Israel.
Israel split when Solomon died.
He promoted peace and prosperity.
The rulers after him could not keep
the people united.