SumerSumerSumer is world oldest civilization-located in

Mesopotamia, (present day Iraq, fertile crescent) between the Tigris and Euphrates (T/E) rivers

Sumer

• Both T/E Rivers flood, recede then leave silt (rich soil)

• “Sumer” is a city-state

• Cities are own “country” called a city-state

• 3 major problems 1. Flooding unpredictable-able to irrigate 2. Small no natural defense-built large mud walls 3. Limited natural resources (wood, stone)-traded

Sumerians create one of the first civilizations

Five Key Characteristics

• Advanced cities

• Specialized workers

• Complex institutions

• Record keeping

• Advanced technology

Power of Priest

• Had total control of early Sumer

Monarchs

• During war-”tough” fighter ruled

• Many wars-priests gave “tough” fighters full control

• Eventually became monarchs and created dynasties

Cities

• Surplus-increase long dist trade (food/ideas)

• Cultural diffusion-absorb other ideas, religion, products

Sumerian Culture

• Polytheism-many gods, Sumerians, almost 3000

• Gods could be like humans but immortal

• Gilgamesh-epic poem tells quest to be immortal

Sumerian Life

• Social Classes

1. Priests and Kings

2. Wealthy merchants

3. Field and shop workers

4. Enslaved peoples

Sumerian Contributions

• Writing-cuneiform, maps, astronomy

• Architecture-arches, columns, ramps, ziggurats

• Base 60, circle 360 degrees, hour 60 minutes, minute 60 seconds

• Farming/transportation-plow, wheeled vehicles, sail

First Empires

• Sargon the conqueror-Akkadian ruler conquered city- states of Mesopotamia

• Worlds first empire, lasted only 200 yrs

Babylonian empire

• Amorites invade Mes. defeat Sumerians

• Est. capital at Babylon

• Reached “peak” during Hammurabi’s time

Code of Hammurabi

• Created single “code” of laws-helped unify c/s

• 282 laws carved into stone-family, business, crime

• Different for rich/poor

• “Eye for eye” (look at pg 32)

• 1st time govt resp for society