Rise of Sumer An Advanced Society Religion Shapes Society

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1 Rise of Sumer An Advanced Society City States of Sumer: City states in Sumer fought each other to gain more farmland, as a result city states built up strong armies and thick walls. Rise of the Akkadian Empire NOT Sumerians, they even spoke a different language. Lived in peace with Sumerians until the 2300s Sargon ( BC) Legend: gardener found a baby floating in a basket on a river and raised him as his own child. Early years: Served Ur Zababa, the king of Kish (Sumerian City State) Rebelled and took over his city, and built Akkad (Akkadian capital) into a military power. Near the Euphrates River. Near Baghdad today. Military leader: First military leader to use soldiers with bows and arrows. First ruler to have a permanent army. Gained their loyalty by eating with them every day. Established the world s first empire. Stretched from the Mediterranean sea to the Persian Gulf Akkad only lasts a Century after Sargon s death. Ur Sumerian city state conquered the rest of Mesopotamia and restored the Sumerian civilizations power. Farming If the Tigris and the Euphrates were not controlled through an irrigation system, then the rivers would flood uncontrollably and devastated cities. Religion Shapes Society Sumerian Religion Gods: had the ability to bring good harvests or disastrous floods. Enlil lord of the air Enki god of wisdom

2 Inanna goddess of love and war. Utu and Nanna gods of the sun and the moon. Priests: people who performed or led religious ceremonies. Great status in Sumer. Interpreted the wishes of the gods and made offerings to them. Sumerian Social Order Social hierarchy : the division of society by rank or class. Kings Priests Merchants/Traders Traders traveled to faraway places and exchanged grain for gold,silver, copper, lumber, and precious stones. Large working class: farmers and laborers Slaves Men and Women: Men: held political power and made laws Often educated Women: took care of the home and children Could be educated if in the upper class. Could be priestesses. Sumerian Achievements Invention of writing Cuneiform used sharp tools called styluses to make wedge shaped symbols on clay tablets. symbols could represent syllables or basic parts of words. Used to keep business and government records. Early Communications Pictographs or picture symbols. Each pictograph represented an object. Advances and Inventions Technical Advances: Wheel: Potter s wheel spins clay as a craftsperson shapes it into bowls. Plow:

3 broke through the hard clay soil of Sumer to prepare it for planting. Increased production. Sewers Math and Science Math: Developed a math system based on 60. Divided the circle into 360 Divided a year into 12 months Science: made lists of animals, plants, and minerals Medicine Used ingredients from animals, plants, and minerals to produce healing drugs. used milk, turtle shells, figs, and salt Catalogued their medical knowledge, listing treatments according to symptoms and body parts. The Arts of Sumer Architecture: the science of building Palaces: rulers Two story homes with as many as a dozen rooms: rich Sumerians Most people lived in smaller, one story houses. six/seven rooms arranged around a small courtyard. Built with mud bricks Later Peoples of the Fertile Crescent Babylonians Conquer Mesopotamia Rise of Babylon Babylon was located on the Euphrates river near Baghdad, Iraq. Was once a Sumerian town. By 1800 BC it was home to a power government led by Hammurabi. Power declined after the death of Hammurabi. Invasions of Mesopotamia Hittites and Kassites Hittites Built a strong kingdom in Asia Minor, or Turkey. Military Advantages: first people to master ironworking.

4 Chariots: a wheeled, horse drawn cart used in battle. Captured Babylon around 1595 BC. Ruled did not last long after the Hittites king was killed by assassination. Kassites lived north of Babylon, captured the city and ruled for about 400 years. Assyrians: Gained control of Babylon in 1200s BC Overrun by invaders, but after 900 BC they began to conquer all of the Fertile Crescent along with parts of Asia Minor and Egypt Military Advanced weaponry and chariots. Well organized Spread terror by looting villages and burning crops. Nineveh: capital city Demanded heavy taxes. Kings ruled through local leaders. Roads were built to link the empire. Chaldeans Succession wars weakened the Assyrian government, which led to the rise of the Chaldeans from the Syrian Desert. Nebuchadnezzar Rebuilt Babylon Installed the Hanging Gardens of Babylon Trees and flowers grew on its terraces and roofs. When you looked up from the ground it appeared to be hanging in mid air. Admired the Sumerian languages and gods. Astronomy Charted the positions of the stars and kept track of economic, political, and weather events. The Phoenicians Geography of Phoenicia Today s Lebanon Urbanized Cities: Tyre, Sidon, and Byblos Trading resources: Cedar Cedar trees were prized for their timber, a valuable trade item.

5 Expansion of Trade Used the Mediterranean Sea to transport goods. Expert sailors. Carthage Located on the northern coast of Africa, was the most famous of the Phoenicians colonies. Became the most powerful city on the Mediterranean. Traded silverwork, ivory carvings, slaves, and cloth. Phoenician purple fabric with rich people all around the Mediterranean. Alphabet: set of letters that can be combined to form words. Impact: made writing easier.