MesopotamiaMesopotamia

Growth of City-States: Growth of City-States:

Sumer, Akkad, Uruk, BabylonSumer, Akkad, Uruk, Babylon Religion and GovernmentReligion and Government

A system of writingA system of writingLegendsLegends

Life in Sumer, Akkad and Life in Sumer, Akkad and UrukUruk

The Sumerians and the Akkadians were The Sumerians and the Akkadians were very similar. They both farmed, and had very similar. They both farmed, and had similar customs. Wars occurred similar customs. Wars occurred frequently over control of land and water. frequently over control of land and water.

Uruk was a very large city-state holding Uruk was a very large city-state holding up to 50,000 people.up to 50,000 people.

Each city-state was surrounded by a Each city-state was surrounded by a mudbrick wall for protection.mudbrick wall for protection.

At the highest point of each city-state, At the highest point of each city-state, was the city’s temple called a was the city’s temple called a zigguratziggurat..

A ziggurat consisted of a series of stacked rectangular platforms that A ziggurat consisted of a series of stacked rectangular platforms that formed a huge pyramid shaped structure. formed a huge pyramid shaped structure.

Reaching up to 290 feet, ziggurats were believed by Mesopotamians to Reaching up to 290 feet, ziggurats were believed by Mesopotamians to link heaven and earth.link heaven and earth.

Religion Religion Religion and government were closely linked.Religion and government were closely linked. The Sumerians and the Akkadians practiced The Sumerians and the Akkadians practiced

polytheismpolytheism- the worship of many gods.- the worship of many gods. Each city-state believed to be under the Each city-state believed to be under the

protection of a particular god who looked after protection of a particular god who looked after its interests.its interests.

If the people in a city state were peaceful and If the people in a city state were peaceful and prosperous, they believed it was because the prosperous, they believed it was because the gods were pleased.gods were pleased.

They worked hard to keep the gods happy by They worked hard to keep the gods happy by making offerings everyday.making offerings everyday.

GovernmentGovernment

The Sumerians believed that kings were The Sumerians believed that kings were chosen by the gods to carry out the god’s chosen by the gods to carry out the god’s wishes. wishes.

This was called This was called divine kingshipdivine kingship- the belief that - the belief that the right to rule was god-given.the right to rule was god-given.

The Sumerians also believed that the right to The Sumerians also believed that the right to rule could be passed from father to son.rule could be passed from father to son.

Sumer also had a class system where society Sumer also had a class system where society was divided into classes.was divided into classes.

WritingWriting The Sumerians were great traders and made The Sumerians were great traders and made

many business deals.many business deals. Sumerians invented a writing system to keep Sumerians invented a writing system to keep

track of all of their business dealings called track of all of their business dealings called cuneiformcuneiform.- A system of wedge-shaped .- A system of wedge-shaped writing.writing.

A professional writer or A professional writer or scribescribe would press would press reeds into wet clay leaving markings that stood reeds into wet clay leaving markings that stood for objects, activities or sounds.for objects, activities or sounds.

The clay tablet was left to dry creating a The clay tablet was left to dry creating a permanent record to use for reference.permanent record to use for reference.

Cuneiform WritingCuneiform Writing

Time to ReviewTime to Review

How does a system of writing make it How does a system of writing make it easier to conduct business?easier to conduct business?

Why were most city-states surrounded by Why were most city-states surrounded by a wall?a wall?

What is the belief in many gods called?What is the belief in many gods called? What does divine kingship mean?What does divine kingship mean? How are city-states different from villages How are city-states different from villages

in the New Stone Age?in the New Stone Age?