Mesopotamia, located in present-day Iraq, was the site of one of the earliest known civilizations. Its settlers were herders who began controlling their environment through irrigation canals and growing crops like barley. They lived in city-states like Ur, with mud brick walls for protection, temples as the center of community life, and developed legal systems as populations grew. Mesopotamian achievements included some of the first written laws, use of the wheel, plow, sailboat, and a 12-month calendar based on astronomy.

1. Mesopotamia-”The Land Between the Rivers (Tigris and Euphrates)

2. In the Middle East-near present day Iraq

3. Its settlers were herders from the grasslands of the Arabian Peninsula and the highlands of Turkey.

4. 1 st known to control their environment(irrigation)-put holes in levees to get water to crops…Canals were dug to get greater amounts farther distances

5. Crops #1- Barley Also, vegetables, fruits, flax, sesame, dates

6. City Life Ur- City State built by Sumerians from Sumer

7. Walls made of mud and crushed reeds for protection from enemies

8. Center of city life was the temple With many people, they had to make laws

9. Mesopotamia Unit Terms Civilization-society w/ a developed knowledge of farming, trade, government, art, and science

10. Mesopotamia Unit Terms Culture- way of life

11. Mesopotamia Unit Terms Artisans-skilled workers

12. Mesopotamia Unit Terms Empire-lands ruled by an emperor

13. Mesopotamia Unit Terms Ziggurat-Mesopota-mian temple

14. Mesopotamia Unit Terms City-state- a city that is also an independent nation

15. Mesopotamia Unit Terms Irrigate-to supply dry land w/water

16. Mesopotamia Unit Terms Cuneiform-Sumerian wedge-shaped writing

17. Mesopotamia Unit Terms Scribe-Sumerian writer

18. Sumerian Cities They were city-states Made up of cities w/farmland around it

19. Sumerian Cities Religion was the center of Sumerian life.They believed in 3000 gods. Most of these were involving nature.

20. Sumerian Learning Only rich boys went to school. Writing (cuneiform) was done w/reeds on clay tablets

21. Men and Women Women could buy and sell property and slaves

22. Men and Women Men were heads of the house. They could divorce for no reason or even sell their wives and children for up to 3 years. Men arranged marriages for children.

23. Children Their job was to OBEY both parents and older siblings, as well as the priest.

24. Priests/Kings Priests were usually kings of city-states

25. Priests/Kings About 3000 B.C. military leaders began being kings instead.

26. Priests/Kings After that, kingship was hereditary.

27. 2400 B.C.-Sumer’s glory fades Sargon I created the world’s first empire by defeating Sumerian city-states.

29. 2400 B.C.-Sumer’s glory fades After Sargon I died, Hammurabi, King of Babylon and the Amorite people conquered the area all the way to the Mediterranean Sea.

30. Hammurabi’s Reforms Improved irrigation Babylonian gods Tax system Gov’t housing CODE OF LAWS

32. Hammurabi’s Code Innocent until proven guilty

33. Hammurabi’s Code Punishments- fines to death; no prisons

34. Hammurabi’s Code Upper class more severely punished

35. Mesopotamian Contributions “ Cradle of Civilization”

36. Mesopotamian Contributions 1 st written laws

37. Mesopotamian Contributions Wheel

38. Mesopotamian Contributions Plow

39. Mesopotamian Contributions Sailboat

40. Mesopotamian Contributions 12-month calendar based on astronomy

41. Mesopotamian Contributions Number system based on 60-led to the clock