Mesopotamia©Copyright 2006

Mrs. Kelly Stevens & Mrs. Paulette Ingram

Fertile Crescent• Area of land located in Modern day

Turkey, Iraq, and NE Syria• Melting snow picks up tons of topsoil from

the mountains and rushes it downstream• Silt – the layer of rich deposited topsoil

Mesopotamia• In Greek it means “land between

two rivers” (Tigris & Euphrates Rivers)

Mesopotamia• Physical Geography

• Dry climate with unpredictable rain & flooding• Area of large dry mud flats, stagnant pools, and reed

swamps• NO building materials or wood• Area offered soil & water

Sumer (3500-1759 BCE)• People who lived there were called

Sumerians• Settled along the Euphrates River• Farming Community• Worshipped many gods (polytheism)

Ziggurat• Giant brick building in the center of the

city to honor the main God/Goddess of the city

• Temple was encircled with staircases or ramps

• Hebrew for “Holy Mountain”

Housing in Sumer

2 Story HomesPriests, Merchants

1 Story HomesShopkeepers,

Craftsman

Small Homes

Farmers & Fisherman

ZigguratMultiple Layers

WALL

Farmland

Social Classes

HighKings, Priests,

and Wealthy property owners

MiddleSkilled workers, Merchants, Farmers

LowSlaves, Indentured Slaves

Workers of the community who were slightly protected

by the laws

Had the most rights and privileges and protected the

most by the laws

Had the least amount of rights and protection from

the laws

Sumer Government

Sumer Government

Priest Warriors became Kings

Political and MilitaryReligious & Economic

Sumerian Accomplishments…• Writing

• Invented Cuneiform• Only a select few learned to read & write• Kept records• This marked the beginning of human history

• Arithmetic• Units of 10 and 60• Hour, minute, and second• Degrees of a circle 360• Dozen• Units of measure and weight• Geometry in building• Twelve month calendar

• Based on lunar cycle• Fixed religious festivals• Fixed agricultural activities

Sumerian Accomplishments…• Religion

• Polytheism (belief in many Gods/Goddesses)• Myths – stories that told about the Gods/Goddesses

• Agriculture• Plow• Wheeled cart• Bronze tools