As societies became larger and more complex,
individuals began to specialize in different types
of jobs. It was no longer necessary for one
individual to learn how to do every kind of work.
Instead, one person could specialize in making
pottery, while another could specialize in
weaving cloth
Trade Routes Developed
As civilizations grew, becoming more advanced,
the demand for certain products, such as copper
and tin increased. People began to desire
products that were not available in their own
lands, such as exotic spices, grains, animals, and
so forth.
At first, trade was simple. Individuals traded
goods amongst one another within their
own community, or with individuals from
neighboring communities. However, within a
few short centuries, complex long distance
trading routes developed.
Specialized traders known as merchants
organized caravans that covered
distances of thousands of miles,
bringing the goods and products of one
society to trade them for goods and
products from another society.
Ancient Trade Routes Develop
As the ancient world began to settle into organized
communities, people began to trade.
At first, trading was made with nearby villages. One big
thing led to the growth and development of trade with
people groups from farther away:
The domestication (training and control) of animals
such as camels, donkeys and other beasts of
burden made it possible to travel longer distances.
Long-range trading was saved for expensive and unusual items. No
one was willing to go to the time and expense of transporting goods
that could be found locally. Because routes were created for trade
with specific places to gain specific goods, the trade routes often had
the name of the item they supplied. The Silk Route ran from China to
Western Asia and the Mediterranean area. The Spice Route brought
rare and wonderful spices form South Asia. Many of these routes
became roads and allowed the spread of ideas, religions and culture.
Armies also used these routes to conquer what started as trade
partners.
Written Language Developed
As cultures became more complex and evolved,
they needed to keep records about their societies.
Priests began to record who had donated religious
offerings, traders recorded their transactions
among different groups of peoples, and leaders
recorded their victories in battle, as well as laws for
their people to follow.
Written language began as
pictures known as glyphs. These
glyphs represented objects and
ideas. Over many thousands of
years these glyphs have evolved
becoming the letters that we
use today.
The Fertile Crescent
Around 7,000 years ago changing weather
patterns forced people to migrate from the
Arabian Peninsula Northward in search of
water. Decreasing rainfall meant that important
lakes and streams, critical to life, were no
longer available.
1. What two rivers run
through the Fertile
Crescent?
Tigris & Euphrates Rivers
2. Which two river valley
civilizations are shown on
this map?
Egypt & Mesopotamia
3. In what present day
country is Mesopotamia
located?
Iraq
*NOTES*
ANCIENT MESOPOTAMIA (4000 B.C.)
“land in between the rivers”
Why was this a perfect place for the 1st civilization?
1.
Fertile Crescent - large arc of fertile land in the Middle East
2.
Tigris & Euphrates Rivers made it possible for farming
3. Cattle, pigs, goats & sheep were accessible
Fertile Crescent
Mediterranean to Persian Gulf
 Mesopotamia
- Means: “Land
between the rivers”
 Tigris and Euphrates
flow through region
 sometimes these
rivers flood and leave
behind silt after water
goes down
 Silt: rich soil
Discussion Question 1
 Why did early civilizations likely emerge along rivers ?
Sumerians Civilization – 3000 B.C.
 What is a city-state?
A city and surrounding
lands with it’s own ruler
Much like a modern day
country
Examples: Eridu,
Uruk, Umma, Ur
“S” Social Class
possible answer
Priests
 Controlled
government
 Acted as go-
between with gods
 Managed irrigation
system – demanded
crops as taxes
“R”
“T”
or
Religion or technology
possible answer
Ziggurat
 Religious center
 City Hall
 “Mountain of God”
 Center of all cities
 Conduct rituals at the
top of the ziggurat
Ziggurat at Ur
Monarchs
 Time of war  a
strong man took
over
 Gave back power
after war
Monarchs to Dynasty
 Military leaders
became full rulers
 Rulers passed on power
to sons
– This establishes a
dynasty
“P” political
potential answer
Discussion Question #2
 How did ancient Sumer move from a theocracy to a
monarchy?
Polytheism and Sumerian Gods
 Belief in many Gods
“R”
Religion possible
answer
- almost 3000 god &
goddesses
- controlled forces of
nature
 Had human qualities
 Immortal and all
powerful
 Most powerful god
was Enlil  clouds and
air
Sumerian and their Gods
 Lowest of all Gods
were Udugs
– Cause disease and
misfortune
 Humans were god’s
servants
– Offered sacrifices to
keep Gods happy
Innovations
 Wheel, Plow, Sail
 Cuneiform: earliest
form of writing
- 2300 B.C.
- Gilgamesh: world’s
oldest epic poem
• astronomy, chemistry,
medicine
 Architectural
innovations
- arches, columns,
ziggurat
“T”
technology
possible answer
Activity: Epic of
Gilgamesh Reading
Question to Consider:
Who came first:
Gilgamesh or Noah?
How do you know?
Was there actually a “great flood”?
Why?
Warm Up
 Read the excerpt from Hammurabi’s Code.
 Answer the Questions and remain QUIET!!!!
Cuneiform Tablet
Mesopotamian Empires
Around 2,000 B.C., the Sumerian city-states
were conquered and united by a succession of
rulers and empire builders. The first of these
was a man by the name of Sargon.
First Mesopotamian Empires
 Sargon conquered most
of the Fertile Crescent
- He was an Akkadian
 Adopted Sumerian
culture
 Established first empire
 Brings together
people under 1 ruler
Hammurabi and the
Babylonian Empire
After the decline of Sargon’s
Akkadian Empire, the Sumerian
city-states fell into decline.
Eventually a new leader by the
name of Hammurabi rose to
power.
“E”
Economy
potential
answer
Cultural Diffusion
 Sumerian food
surplus leads to long
distance trade
 This leads to the
spread of ideas and
products from one
culture to another
Discussion Question #3
 Why were so many empires able to emerge in the
Mesopotamia region? Explain.
Babylonian Empire
 Hammurabi’s Code
 Hammurabi established a series of written laws
describing the various violations and what the
appropriate punishments would be. These laws
were written down, establishing the first
written system of justice. This is considered to
be one of Babylon’s greatest achievements.
- 1792-1750 B.C.
- collection of 282 laws
- Applied to everyone, but not fair to
everyone.
- Based on the idea of an Eye for an eye,
-- It was fair to the victims, but unfair to
the accused and served in favor of those of
higher social standing.
- Patriarchal: dominated by men, women
had few rights
Code of Hammurabi reading
Discussion Question #4 and #5
 What was the purpose of Hammurabi’s Code?
 Was Hammurabi’s fair to all people?