A. In western ASIA; area currently known as IRAQ B.Two Major Rivers in the Fertile Crescent 1. TIGRIS &EUPHRATES Rivers flow >1,000 miles

Area between rivers known as MESOPOTAMIA Greek for LAND Between the RIVERS

The Fertile Crescent includes modern TURKEY, SYRIA, Iraq, Lebanon, Israel, and Jordan

2.rivers carry soil from mountains A.this loose, fertile soil is known as SILT 3. This helps crops grow

Developed IRRIGATION Used CANALS to bring water to crops Fertile soil & irrigation = great AGRICULTURE

First cities included UR, Uruk, and ERIDU

B. CITY-STATES include city & surrounding lands 1.populations ranged from 5,000 to 20,000 2.Made sun-dried bricks of MUD and REEDS 3.Surrounded by a wall with a gate for PROTECTION

1.Their religion based on POLYTHEISM A.this is the belief in many GODS and GODDESSES B. the gods controlled NATURE & the things PEOPLE did

2. A ZIGGURAT in the center of each city A. Ziggurat means to RISE HIGH 3. Only PRIESTS, & later kings, allowed in temple A. kings claim GODS gave them the power to rule

1. social structure similar to last unit A. Men were head of the home B. sons went to school and trained for jobs C. Women ran the home; taught daughters to do the same

Developed a type of writing known as CUNEIFORM 1. started as PICTURE writing 2. wedge-shaped symbols carved into CLAY

3. years of study to be a SCRIBE (or official WRITER) a. very few learned mostly WEALTHY BOYS 4. kept business RECORDS and OFFICIAL documents

5. first known literature was the EPIC of GILGAMESH

1. Developed the WHEEL

Invented the SAILBOAT and the PLOW Math included: GEOMETRY - 360⁰ circle, mult. and div. tables

III. Mesopotamian Empires King SARGON creates world s first empire ca. 2340 BC an empire is a group of many lands under one ruler included all the people and city-states of Mesopotamia

King HAMMURABI formed Babylonian Empire ca. 1790 BC most important city was BABYLON

Hammurabi s code of laws 1.Dealt with crimes, FARMING, marriage, etc 2.Punishment should match crime a. EYE for an EYE, tooth for a tooth 3.Influenced later laws in the Greek and Roman empires

Hammurabi s code of laws 1.Dealt with crimes, FARMING, marriage, etc 2.Punishment should match crime a. EYE for an EYE, tooth for a tooth

Assyrian Empire starts around 900 BC Took power with a well-trained MILITARY 1.Over 50,000 soldiers with advanced WEAPONS (used iron!) 2. conquered people pay TRIBUTE which is like taxes

Assyrian Empire starts around 900 BC Took power with a well-trained MILITARY 1.Over 50,000 soldiers with advanced WEAPONS 2. conquered people pay TRIBUTE which is like taxes

Assyrian capital became Nineveh 1.divided empire into PROVINCES 2.King Ashurbanipal built one of the first LIBRARIES

Chaldean Empire rose to power around 650 BC King Nebuchadnezzar makes Babylon the capital again a. grand palaces include 300 with gold roof i. Hanging Garden = one of the 7 WONDERS of the World

b. major trade routes from Persian Gulf to Mediterranean Sea i. CARAVANS of traders made Babylon wealthy

2. Achievements in Astronomy a. mapped the stars, planets, and moon phases b. invented SUNDIALS to measure time c. followed a seven day WEEK

E. The Persians took over Mesopotamia around 539 BC 1. kept many of the Chaldean accomplishments