Download - 2.1 Sumer
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SumerSumerSumer is world oldest civilization-located in
Mesopotamia, (present day Iraq, fertile crescent) between the Tigris and Euphrates (T/E) rivers
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Sumer
• Both T/E Rivers flood, recede then leave silt (rich soil)
• Villages grow/prosper
• “Sumer” is founded Sumerians create city-state
• Cities its own “country” called a city-state
• 3 major problems 1. Flooding unpredictable-dug irrigation 2. Small no natural defense-built large mud walls 3. Limited natural resources (wood, stone)-traded
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Sumerians create one of the first civilizations
Five Key Characteristics
• Advanced cities
• Specialized workers
• Complex institutions
• Record keeping
• Advanced technology
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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