City States of Mesopotamia
I.
Geography
a. “Fertile Crescent” =>
b. Tigris & Euphrates Rivers
i. Flows SE into Persian Gulf
ii. Mesopotamia = “_________________________________________”
iii. Annual flooding of rivers left __________ =>
II.
Humans’ arrival
a. Why settle here?
i. River valley had . . .
ii. Access to major body of water =>
iii. Allowed for easy irrigation …
b. Challenges to settlers
i. Annual flooding was unpredictable
ii. No natural __________________
iii. Limited natural resources =>
c. Solutions
i. Irrigation projects
ii. Built ____________ around cities
iii. ___________ for goods
III.
City states of Mesopotamia
a. City States =>
i. Culturally _____________________
ii. Politically _____________________
iii. Economically _____________________
iv. Militarily _____________________
b. City states named . . .
c. Political power
i. Irrigation projects needed . . .
ii. Beginning of ________________________
iii. Religious basis of political power
1. City state’s gods own all land
2. King served as ______________________ of gods
3. “Priest-Kings”
4. In times of war, _______________ chosen to lead army
iv. After 3000 BC, as war became more common . . .
1. Why fight? =>
2. Dynasties = series of …
d. Cultural Diffusion
i. Idea or product spreading . . .
ii. Spread by __________________
iii. What ideas? =>
IV.
Case Study: Sumerian Culture
a. Religion
i. Polytheistic =>
1. About _____________ in all
2. Gods immortal, all powerful
3. Many had . . .
ii. Built ziggurats =>
b. After life =>
c. Science and technology
i. Inventions
1. Wheel =>
2. Sail =>
3. Plow =>
4. Metallurgy
a. Pre 3000 BC =>
b. Post 3000 BC =>
5. Sun dried bricks =>
6. Cuneiform
a. First . . .
b. Wedge shaped reed pressed into . . .
c. Needed record keeping system =>
7. Number system was base __________ =>
d. Sumerian Life
i. Social classes
1. Priest-Kings
2. Wealthy __________________
3. Farmers, artisans =>
4. Slaves
ii. Women had many rights, but . . .