1. RELIGION IN SUMER
1.1. Sumerian lives depended on natural forces they could not control.
1.2. The people worshipped hundreds of gods.
1.2.1. A belief in many gods is called polytheism.
1.3. Sumerians believed that their gods ruled the earth and had created humans to serve them.
1.4. Sumerian priests tried to please them. Everyone paid a temple tax.
1.4.1. Was offered to thew gods in elaborate public rituals.
1.4.2. Or formal series of acts always performed in the same way.
1.5. Sumerians develop a calendar.
2. SUMERIAN WRITING
2.1. DOCUMENT ONE
2.1.1. Primary source: Artifact
2.1.2. Cuneinform Tablet, Northern Iraq, C.600s b.c
2.1.3. Scribes used reeds, or sharpened blades of grass.
2.1.4. This tablet descibes a flood scene from The Epic of Gilgamesh.
2.2. DOCUMENT TWO
2.2.1. Primary source: Epic, From Gilgamesh.
2.2.2. The Epic of Gilgamesh is the world´s oldestrecorded story.
2.2.3. Gilgamesh was probably a real king of Uruk.
2.2.4. The author is unknown.
2.3. DOCUMENT THREE
2.3.1. Primary source: Creation Story, from The Epic of Creation
2.3.2. The Babylonian creation story explains how the world was formed.
2.3.3. Creates the stars and a 12-month calendar.
3. HAMMURABI´S CODE OF LAWS
3.1. After the fall of Sargon a tribe called the Amorities invaded werstern Mesopotamia.
3.2. Hammurabi became the sixth kin of Babylon.
3.3. Hammurabi was Babylon´s most influential and powerful ruler.
3.4. The Code of Laws marked a major step forward for civilization.
3.4.1. Was often applied based on a person´s social class.
3.4.2. Hammurabi´s Code of Laws influenced later legal systems.
4. THE ASSYRIANS AND THE CHALDEANS
4.1. The Assyrians were of northern Mesopotamia and developed a different culture.
4.2. Destructive iron weapons gave Assyrians armies advantage over their enemies.
4.3. The Assyrians Empire grew too big.
4.3.1. Tired of being treated so unfairly and violently.
4.4. The Chaldeans were a seminomadic people who originally came from southern Babylonia.
4.4.1. Nebuchadnezzar II was the most famous Chaldean King.
4.5. Nebuchadnezzar had built a monumental city fitting its name: Babylon, Gate of God.
5. THE GEOGRAHY OF ANCIENT MESOPOTAMIA
5.1. The Fertile Crescent sweeps its way across Southwest.
5.1.1. Farming began as early as 9800 B.C in The Fertiloe Crescent.
5.1.1.1. Irrigation, or watering fields using human-made systems, was the answer.
5.1.1.2. The people developed important new technology.
5.1.1.2.1. The result was a reliable and abundant agricultural surplus.
5.2. In the east The Tigris and Euphrates river
5.2.1. Tigris called "swift river" because it flowed fast.
5.2.2. Euphrates flowed more slowly.
5.3. Historians call this flat, fertile area Mesopotamia
5.4. Mesopotamia people use the fine and fertile oil for agriculture.
6. CITY-STATES DEVELOP
6.1. SUMER
6.1.1. Mesopotamia´s first civilization arose in Sumer.
6.1.2. Sumer, was not controlled by a single, unified government.
6.1.3. Most of Sumer´s 12 city-states, including Ur, were built on Tigris and Euphrates rivers.
6.1.4. Frequent wars were fought between city-states to protect fertile land.
6.2. CENTERS OF CIVILIZATION
6.2.1. Surplus food gave Sumerians time to learn new skills and encouraged trade.
6.2.2. Though Sumer had productive farmland, important natural resources, such as tin and copper.
6.2.3. A strong metal used by Sumerians to create tools ande weapons.
6.2.4. Sumerian society was organized by social class.
6.2.4.1. These groups in turn looked down on farmers and less-killed workers.
7. SARGON CONQUERS MESOPOTAMIA
7.1. Sargon the Great was an ancient Mesopotamian ruler who has inspired stories nearly 4,500 years.
7.2. Sargon was a servant to the king of Kish.
7.3. Sargon´s armies swept through Sumer, conquering it completely.
7.3.1. They also took control of northern Mesopotamia.
7.4. His empire stretched from the Mediterranean Sea to th Persian Gulf.
7.5. Was an effective warrior and skilled at managing people and projects.
7.5.1. Despite Sargon´s abilities, the empire became too bif¿g to control.