Ancient Mesopotamia
Tigris and Euphrates River Valleys
8 Characteristics of Eary Civilization in Mesopotamia
1. Cities
2. Well Organized Government
3. Complex Religion
4. Job Specialization
5. Social Classes
6. Arts/Architecture
7. Public Works
8. Writing
- Cities developed as separate countries, called "City-States."
- Sumer was a collection of 12 ancient city-states that developed in the southern region of Mesopotamia.
2. Well Organized Government
- Priests managed the god's land, directed worship, and governed the city.
- Hammurabi later conquered the region and instituted his code, which consisted of 282 laws affecting all aspects of life.
3. Complex Religion
- Each city-state belonged to a different god. People believed that the gods had the power to destroy their cities with floods.
- Sumerians believed in "Polytheism," or the worship of many gods.
4. Job Specialization
- Most of the people of Sumer were farmers.
- Because plenty of food was produced, others were able to work as traders and artisans.
5. Social Classes
- Only upper class boys received an education.
- Priests ran schools that were set up in temples.
6. Arts/Architecture
- Ziggurats, or massive step-like towers were erected in the center of each city.
- This was done to please the gods.
7. Public Works
- Houses were built out of sun-dried clay bricks.
- With the help of irrigation, farmers grew grain, vegetables, and dates, and raised cows, sheep and goats.
8. Writing
- The Sumerians are the first people on earth to invent a system of writing.
- Cuneiform consisted of 600 symbols drawn on soft clay tablets that dried in the sun and became hard.
King Hammurabi
Code of Hammurabi
Example of cuneiform.
A Sumerian City
See the Ziggurat at the center.