Unit 3:

Ancient Mesopotamia

Do Now:

What were some of the

contributions of the ancient
Egyptians?
 Aim: Was geography a friend or foe to ancient
Mesopotamia?

• How did geography

benefit the ancient
Sumerians?

• The Tigris and

Euphrates Rivers
flooded and deposited
silt onto the land.
 Geography

• Location: Between Tigris and

Euphrates Rivers
• Rivers: The rivers were
unpredictable
• Drought
• Floods
• Natural Barriers: Mesopotamia
had few natural land barriers
• Led to many invasions
Mesopotamia (Fertile Crescent)

Mesopotamia is a Greek word meaning 'between the rivers'.

Modern Iraq.

The Euphrates also flows through much of Syria.

Mesopotamia is made up of different regions, each with its

own geography.
The geography of each area and the natural resources found
there affected the ways that people lived. Northern
Mesopotamia is made up of hills and plains.
 Fertile Crescent

The land is quite fertile due to seasonal rains, and the rivers
and streams flowing from the mountains.
Early settlers farmed the land and used timber, metals and
stone from the mountains nearby.
Southern Mesopotamia is made up of marshy areas and wide,
flat, barren plains.
Cities developed along the rivers which flow through the
region. Early settlers had to irrigate the land along the banks
of the rivers in order for their crops to grow. Since they did
not have many natural resources, contact with neighboring
lands was important.
 CHALLENGES SOLUTIONS

• Flooding of rivers • Created irrigation ditches

unpredictable; very little
rainfall • Built city walls of mud
• Few natural barriers for bricks for defense
protection; almost
defenseless

• Traded with people in the

• Natural resources were mountains for products
limited-stone, wood and they lacked
metal
 Both rivers were
UNPREDICTABLE

Lack of Ziggurats-
Barriers pyramid
Shaped
temple

Contributions,plo
w, wheel, sail, # Sumerian City-
system based on State:a
60 political
First to use bronze unit with
Basic geometry its own
1st Empire governme
Cuneiform- to invade nt First
Wedge-shaped Sargon- Ruler
Symbols on clay Akkadians Priest
tablets UR king
 Sumerians 3500 BC - 1600 BC

• Government: Religion: Sumerian were

polytheistic
• Each city was an independent City-State Gods controlled the
environment
• Had its own government/leaders Each City-State built
around a
• Co-operation among surrounding City-States ZIGGURAT
• Mutual defenses - Build Walls
• Build and maintain irrigation system

• Leaders:
• Earlier City-States were ruled by priests
• Later City-States ruled by military leaders
 Contributions
Writing:
- Cuneiform writing was used to keep records. Written on clay tablets

Technology:
– Wheeled Vehicles
– Irrigation systems
– Arches, columns and ramps

Calendar:
- Created a 12 month calendar based on the moon

Mathematics:
- Arithmetic based on the number 60
- Geometry
Sumer City State
Mutual Obligations
Priests
Ziggurats
Ziggurats - Ur
Cuneiform Tablets
The Wheel
Arch
Akkadia Around 2300 BC
This empire allowed for the development of
art, literature, science, agricultural advances,
and religion.

Sargon the Great: 56 yrs of powers

• King of the first empire
• Lord of the four quarters of the world (king
of known world)
Ur- Nammu:
• Reunited the City-States after the death of
Sargon
• Compiled the first known code of laws,
oldest known in world.
Babylon Est.2000 BC

HAMMURABI
• Created a harsh system of
laws known as the Code of
Hammurabi
• an eye for an eye
• A Golden Age where there
were advancements in
culture, science, literature
and mathematics