19 October 201519 October 2015E.Q. – What is the 1E.Q. – What is the 1stst Civilization & What are the Elements of a Civilization & What are the Elements of a

civilizations?civilizations?

• Bellringer: Why is it good to settle along a river?

• Mesopotamia Geography Basics• Elements of a Civilization

• HW: Chapter 3 Map Questions

• Map from CIA Source Book

Modern Location

Iraq

MesopotamiaMesopotamia

The “land The “land between the between the

rivers” in Greekrivers” in Greek

Mesopotamia Rivers

The Tigris and The Tigris and Euphrates Euphrates

RiversRivers

Fertile CrescentFertile Crescent

A large arc of Fertile farmland extending

from the Persian Gulf to the Mediterranean

Sea.

Mesopotamia Basics• Mesopotamia

• 2 Rivers

• Fertile Crescent

• Modern Country

• Farming

• Greek “Land between the rivers”

• Tigris & Euphrates

• Large arc of fertile farmland extending from Persian Gulf to Mediterranean Sea

• Iraq

• about 7,000 years ago – small villages

Floods? A Good Thing?

• In Mesopotamia, Yes!

• Not much rain (see map)

• Heavy rains in Eastern Asia Minor – Where rivers originate– Caused floods

• First – floods were washing away crops, killing livestock & washing away homes!

• They had to lean how to control the floods

Ways to help Ways to help farmingfarming……

IrrigationIrrigation- a way of supplying - a way of supplying water to an area of land.water to an area of land.

SiltSilt- a mixture of rich soil and - a mixture of rich soil and tiny rocks. tiny rocks.

CanalsCanals- human-made - human-made waterwayswaterways

Surplus!*Farming allowed Early Farming allowed Early

Mesopotamians to Mesopotamians to develop a surplus, or develop a surplus, or an an

excess - more than is excess - more than is neededneeded..

Division of LaborDivision of Labor

Workers Workers specialize in a specialize in a specific task or specific task or

job. job.

What Makes Up A Civilization?

Page 3

What is a civilization?

• It is a network of cities that all share a common culture.

• 5 Requirements– Stable Food Supply– Division of Labor– System of Government– Social Hierarchy– Highly Developed Culture

Stable Food Supply

• A steady supply of food or a surplus

Division of Labor

• People do a variety of different jobs that help the civilizations function.

System of Government

• Laws that protect the people in the civilization.

Social Hierarchy

• Social classes or the social pyramid

Highly Developed Culture

• Examples -- Art, architecture, religion, law, music, a system of writing.

Parting Thoughts….

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&NR=1&v=84y2q4giihY

Is Mesopotamia a Civilization?

Stable Food Supply

• Irrigation increased the amount of food farmers were able to grow

• Farmers could create a surplus of food

• Foods included: fish, meat, barley and dates

Division of Labor

• Since there was a surplus of food, not everyone had to be a farmer

• Each worker could specialize in a particular job

• People could become– Crafters– Religious leaders– Government workers

System of Government

• Organized into city-states (city & countryside around it)

• King is in control

Social HierarchyKing

Priests

Skilled CraftspeopleMerchants & Traders

Farmers & Laborers(Working Class)

Slaves

Highly Developed Culture

• Writing – Cuneiform• Works of literature – poems & stories• Invented the wheel and plow• Statues of gods• Gold jewelry• People sang, danced & played

musical instruments