Mesopotamia

The area of Mesopotamia is often called the "Cradle of Civilization" because it was here that the very first civilizations flourished. The river valleys of the Tigris and Euphrates allowed for good farming conditions and soon city-states began to arise in the "Fertile Cresent". The area in Southern Mesopotamia was known as Sumer and it was here that the Sumerians lived for thousands of years as their civilization made great advances in government, writing, science and math. Over time however, these city-states were weakened by internal conflict and attacks from outside groups. By 2340 B.C., the Sumerians were under the control of the Akkadian Empire led by Sargon. This was the very first empire of the region and controlled all of Mesopotamia for the next 200 years.

Click here for Mesopotamia and Sumer Power Point Notes

Useful Links

1) Stories, real life situations and games from ancient Sumer!

http://www.mesopotamia.co.uk/menu.html#

2) Great review of the fertile cresent!

http://www.mrdowling.com/603mesopotamia.html

3) Mesopotamian life, art, pictures, maps and biographies!

http://www.historylink101.com/ancient_mesopotamia.htm

4) Acheivements of the ancient Sumerians!

http://www.vnc.qld.edu.au/enviro/sumer/2002-b.htm

5) Want to know a whole bunch about the Sumerians???

http://www.wsu.edu:8080/~dee/MESO/SUMER.HTM

6) Write your name in cuneiform!!!

http://www.upennmuseum.com/cuneiform.cgi

Vocabulary

artisan - skilled craftsperson

city-state - independent state made up of a city and the surrounding land and villages

civilization - A complex society that have cities, organized governments, art, religion, class divisions and a writing system

cuneiform - Sumerian system of writing made up of wedge-shaped markings

empire - group of territories or nations under a single ruler or government

irrigation - Method of bringing water to a field from another place to water crops

scribe - record keeper

ziggurat - grand temples built by the Sumerians to honor the gods. Means "mountain of god" or "hill of heaven"

Map of Ancient Mesopotamia