AIM: HOW DID THE MAIN ASPECTS OF
CIVILIZATION BEGIN IN SUMER?
DO NOW: TAKE OUT CUNEIFORM
WORKSHEET.
WHAT ARE THE TWO RIVERS OF
MESOPOTAMIA?

Ancient Sumer
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Aim: How did the main aspects of civilization begin in Sumer?

Do Now: take out Cuneiform worksheet.

What are the two rivers of
Mesopotamia?

Homework: Quiz tomorrow on
Mesopotamia

Civilization

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Surplus (extra) crops
Resulted in the growth of towns and cities

Sumer
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Southern Mesopotamia
About a dozen small cities
Created first wheeled vehicles

Cuneiform
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Cuneiform – system of writing invented in Sumer

Brought cities together

First created to record farm surpluses
Used sharp reeds to scratch onto clay tablets

Cuneiform

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Oldest tablets – symbols are like pictographs
Gradually simplify symbols so can write faster
Over 500 signs

School in Sumer

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Most could not write
Honor to go to school and be a scribe
Possible for girls to be scribes

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City-States of Sumer
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City-state – a self-governing city that also governs surrounding villages
Life centered around the city-states

City-States of Sumer

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Went to war to control the river
Walls built to protect against attack
King’s palace

Decision making and planning took place here

Religion

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Ziggurat – large building with a temple at its peak

Center of city
Polytheism

Uniting City-States

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Sargon – King of Kish who united Mesopotamia’s city-states
Trade with the Phoenicians
Cuneiform unites Fertile Crescent

AIM: REVIEWING
MESOPOTAMIA
DO NOW: COMPLETE BABYLON
WORKSHEET
TAKE OUT HOMEWORK.

AIM: HOW DID
HAMMURABI’S CODE SHOW
THE IMPORTANCE OF
GOVERNMENT?
DO NOW: WHY ARE LAWS
SO IMPORTANT?
WHY DO WE NEED LAWS?

Babylon


Empire of Babylonia
Hammurabi – king of Babylon

Hammurabi’s Code





Code of law – a written set of laws that apply to everyone under a government
One of world’s oldest set of laws
Slavery existed
Not everyone was equal
Written in cuneiform

Hammurabi’s Code


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If a physician operates on a man for a severe wound with a bronze tool and causes that man’s death… they shall cut off his hand.
If a builder builds a house for a man and does not make the construction sound, and the house which he has built collapses and causes death, that builder shall be put to death.
If a man destroys the eye of another man, they shall destroy his eye.
If a son strikes his father, they shall cut off his hand.
Anyone who steals a child shall be put to death.
Convicted thieves shall have their hands cut off.
If a man destroys the eye of a slave, he shall pay one-half the slave’s value.

Homework



Answer the Aim in a paragraph
Can this type of strict laws be good for society today?
Why or why not?
Hammurabi’s Code worksheet

Babylon



Powerful city in Fertile Crescent
Largest city in world
Two walls and a moat protected city