WHI: SOL 3b Sumer
Early River Valley Civilizations
Timeline
• Identify on your timeline the following:
• Sumer (3200 b.c.-1900 b.c.)
• Akkad (2300 b.c.-2150 b.c.)
• Babylon (1790 b.c.-1595 b.c.)
– New Babylon (626 b.c.-539 b.c.)
• Hittite (1650 b.c.-1200 b.c.)
• Assyria (1350 b.c.-609 b.c.)
• Israel (1000 b.c.- 586 b.c)
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On your maps, identify the following:
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Map A
Egyptian Civilization
Sumer/Mesopotamia
Indus River Civilization
Chinese Civilization
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Map B
Red Sea
Mediterranean Sea
Black Sea
Caspian Sea
Persian Gulf
Nile River
Tigris River
Euphrates River
Arabian Peninsula
Asia Minor
What type of area did ancient peoples often choose to settle
in? Why?
These river valleys offered rich soil and irrigation
water for agriculture, and they tended to be in
locations easily protected from invasion by nomadic
peoples.
Section 1
• Mesopotamia means,
“The land between the
rivers.”
• Mesopotamia is formed
between the Tigris and
Euphrates Rivers
• The oldest civilization was found in this region between the
Tigris and Euphrates Rivers in what is now Iraq.
• This area was part of the Fertile Crescent, a fertile arc of land
from the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea, through
Mesopotamia, to the Persian Gulf (Arabian Sea)
Lifestyle and
Agriculture
Rich soil and a
lot of crops led
to the
development of
civilization
Regions
Sumer
First civilization, in
S. Mesopotamia
Akkad
To the north
Hittites
Assyria
Further North
Assyria
Israel
City States of Ancient
Mesopotamia
Ur, Uruk, Babylon
Akkad
Babylon
Sumer
Ur
City States
A city and its surrounding
territory.
The cities were
surrounded by great walls
to offer protection.
Stone was scarce, so most
building were made of
mud bricks.
Sumer (Social)
• Each city-state had a distinct hierarchy (system of
ranking groups)
Kings, royals, officials, high priests
Lesser priests, artisans, scribes, merchants
Peasant farmers
Slaves
Sumer (Political)
• Ruler(king) was responsible for maintaining
city walls and irrigation systems
• Hereditary Rule- when power passes from
father to son (within one family)
• Led armies in war
• Enforced laws
• Collected taxes
• Kept records
• Chief servant of the gods (theocracy-blend of
government and religion)
Sumer (Religious)
• Polytheistic- belief in many gods
• Belief in afterlife
• Ziggurat- a large stepped temple dedicated to
each city-states chief god or goddess
• Priests performed ceremonies and
processions
Sumer (Intellectual/Artistic)
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Cuneiform-wedge writing
System of pictographs
Mathematics
Astronomy
Epic of Gilgamesh
Sumer (Technological)
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Wheel
Irrigation
Bricks made of clay/mud
Bronze
Swords
Plow
Clothing made from flax (wool)
Boats
Sumer (Economic)
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Farming
Trading
Bronze tools
World’s first cities (Ur, Uruk, Babylon)