On a sheet of paper I want you to answer ‘What is something bad that you have done, and what was the punishment that you received for it.’

On a sheet of paper I want you to answer ‘What is something bad that you have done, and what was the punishment that you received for it.’

• On a sheet of paper I want you to answer ‘What is something bad that you have done, and what was the punishment that you received for it.’

• Did you feel like the punishment was fair for the “crime” you committed?

Greek meaning “Land Between two rivers”

• Greek meaning “Land Between two rivers”

• What two rivers?

• Tigris and Euphrates Rivers
• Modern day Iraq
• A desert climate, within this dry region lies an arc of land that provided some of the best farming in Southwest Asia.

• The regions curved shape and the richness of its land led scholars to call it the Fertile Crescent

Sumerian Civilization was not united, but divided into warring city-states.

• Sumerian Civilization was not united, but divided into warring city-states.

• city-states - cities with own individual governments

• Sumerian city-states rivaled each other which led to the emergence of warrior-kings to provide protection.

• warrior kings eventually passed on leadership to sons, who eventually passed it on to their heirs. Such a series of rulers is known as a _____________

• ruler seen as chief servant to the gods and led ceremonies meant to please them.

• Sumerian city-states were eventually captured and unified into the Akkadian and then Babylonian Empires

Kings, land of holders, and some priests made up the highest level in Sumerian society.

• Kings, land of holders, and some priests made up the highest level in Sumerian society.

• Wealthy merchants ranked next

• The vast majority ordinary Sumerians people worked with their hands in fields and workshops.

• At the lowest level of Sumerian society were the slaves

tiered pyramid

• tiered pyramid

• center of religious ceremonies and government

• “Mountain to God”

• Made of clay found all around them…no wood or stone in this desert climate

Trade was enhanced by the introduction of the wheel.

• Trade was enhanced by the introduction of the wheel.

• Reduced the time it took to transport goods.

In order to build city walls and buildings, plan irrigation systems, and survey flooded fields, Sumerians needed arithmetic and geometry.

• In order to build city walls and buildings, plan irrigation systems, and survey flooded fields, Sumerians needed arithmetic and geometry.

• They developed a number system based on 60, from which stem the modern unites for measuring time (60 secs= 1 min) and the 360 degrees of a circle.

They also developed a 12 month calendar (huh these things sound familiar….)

• They also developed a 12 month calendar (huh these things sound familiar….)

Brought both northern and southern Mesopotamia together

• Brought both northern and southern Mesopotamia together

• An empire brings together several peoples, nations, or previously independent states under the control of one ruler.

• Sargon’s empire only lasted 200 yrs

In about 2000 B.C. nomadic warriors known as Amorites invaded Mesopotamia.

• In about 2000 B.C. nomadic warriors known as Amorites invaded Mesopotamia.

• They established their capital in Babylon

• The Babylonian empire reached it’s peak during the reign of Hammurabi

• Hammurabi’s most enduring legacy is the code of laws he put together

Cause: Hammurabi recognized that a single, uniform code of laws would help to unify the diverse groups within his empire.

• Cause: Hammurabi recognized that a single, uniform code of laws would help to unify the diverse groups within his empire.

• Effect: He collected existing rules, judgments, and laws into the Code of Hammurabi