TIGRIS/EUPHRATES RIVER VALLEY CIVILIZATION

Mesopotamia an area geographically located between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. Mesopotamia means the land between two rivers. Mesopotamia began as urban societies in southern Iraq in 5000 BC, and ends in the 6th century BC.

Impact of Geography

It was the two rivers that became the basis upon which the wealth of the region

There was never a regular supple of water in Mesopotamia but the soil was so enriched over the years by the layers of silt which is material deposited by the two rivers

The valley between the Tigris and the Euphrates River was known as the land "between the rivers" in Greek

An arc of land from the Mediterranean Sea to the Persian Gulf called the Fertile Crescent had rich soil and abundant crops to sustain life in the early civilization

Ancient Mesopotamia consists of current day Assyria, Akkad, and Sumer

The three main independent cities in Southern Mesopotamia were Eridu, Ur, and Urak, these cities had a political and economic over the surrounding countryside

Economy

The Sumerian city-states was based on farming and trade

Industry became an important factor in civilization as well

The people of Mesopotamia were known for their metalwork, woolen textiles, and pottery

Copper, tin, and timber were imported goods exchanged for dried fish, wool, wheat, and metal goods

Around 3000 B.C. the invention of the wheel was created making transportation of good easier and quicker

Social Structure

There were three major social groups in the Sumerian city-states

The groups were the nobles, commoners, and the slaves

The Nobles included many of the royal and religious officials

The Commoners worked for palace and temple domain, they also worked as farmers, merchants, and crafts people

More than 90 percent of the people in Mesopotamia were farmers due to the rich soil

The slaves worked in building buildings and also belonged to the palace officials

Buildings/Structures

The most famous and important building in the Sumerian city was the temple dedicated to the gods and goddesses of the city.

The temple was called a ziggurat and was built atop a massive stepped tower

Housing were built by sun-dried bricks

A small portion of buildings were made by stone or wood

Characters/Gender Roles

Female slaves:

Often used to weave cloth and grind grains

The Sumerian kings:

Families lived in large palaces and helped rule

Tools/Weapons/Technology
Tools Saws Chisels Hammers Braces Bits Nails Pins Rings Hoes Glue	Weapons Arrowheads Axes Knives Lancepoints Swords Daggers Clubs Armor	Technology Writing system Number system First wheeled vehicles Irrigation systems Boats Calendar

Religion

What they believed:

In Mesopotamia, each town and city was believed to be protected by a god

The Mesopotamians believed that these pyramid temples connected heaven and earth

At first, many religious events were held at the temple but later as priesthood developed, the temple became the center of both religion and learning for the entire community

The gods in Sumerian were called dingir

Their gods and goddesses had supernatural powers

Every single city had its own patron god or goddess who owned everything and everyone in the city

Everyone was expected to sing hymns, say prayers, make sacrifices and bring offerings to the local temple (ziggurat) for the gods

In Mesopotamia the people looked to religion to answer their questions about life and death, good and evil, and the forces of nature

The Sumerians believed in divine order, that is, everything that occurs is preplanned by the gods

There are four all-powerful gods that created and controlled the universe

An was the god of heaven

Enlil was the air-god

Enki was the water-god

Ninhursag was the mother earth-goddess

Each of these gods created lesser gods who were also important in Mesopotamia

Utu, the sun-god

Nanna was the moon-god

Writing/Literature

One of the greatest accomplishments of the Sumerian people was the invention of the earliest known system of writing

The Sumerians created written documents by using a triangular-tipped stylus to make wedge-shaped impressions in soft clay

Enuma Elish and Gilgamesh are examples of great religious literature, while the Code of Hammurabi is one of the greatest early examples of juridical literature

People who lived north of the Sumerian city-states also known as Akkadians (Semitic) spoke a Semitic language