Chapter One, Section Two: The Rise of Sumer

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TheRise ofSumerSeptember 16, 2013

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Where was Sumer?

By 3000 B.C., many cities had formed in southern

Mesopotamia in a region known as Sumer.

Sumerian cities were isolated from each other by

geography.

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This terrain made travel and communication

difficult.

Each Sumerian city and the land around it became

a separate city-state.

It had its own government and was not part of any

larger unit.

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City-states often went to war with one another.

They fought to gain glory and to control more

territory.

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River mud was main building material, so this is

what walls around the city-states were made

from.

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The Sumerians believed in many gods. Each was

thought to have power over a natural force or a

human activity—flooding, for example, or basketweaving.

Each city-state built a grand temple called a

ziggurat. Ziggurat means“mountain of god” or

“hill of heaven.” 

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Most people in Sumer farmed. Some however,

were artisans—skilled workers.

Sumerian writing was called cuneiform.

Those who wrote cuneiform were called scribes,or record keepers.

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THE FIRST STORY EVER: Epic of Gilgamesh—What 

happens in this story?

The Mesopotamians also were advanced in Math

and Science. How do you believe this changed the

societies to follow?

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Look Like a Sumerian… 

Why do YOU think people in Sumer created sculptureswith such BIG eyes?

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Sargon and Hammurabi

Sargon: The King of the Akkadians

In 2340 B.C., Sargon conquered all of 

Mesopotamia and set up the world’s first empire.

An empire is a group of many different lands

under one ruler. His empire lasted for more than

200 years before falling to invaders.

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Sargon.

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In 1800s B.C., a new group of people became

powerful in Mesopotamia. They built the city of 

Babylon by the Euphrates River.

It quickly became the center of trade.

Beginning in 1792 B.C., the Babylonian king

Hammurabi began conquering cities to the north

and south and created the Babylonian Empire.

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Hammurabi

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THE CODE OF HAMMURABI

Clay tablet

------------ 

cuneiform

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“Fair Laws” 

If a judge makes an error through his own fault

when trying a case, he must pay a fine, be

removed from the judge’s bench, and never judgeanother case.

If someone gives something to someone else for

safe-keeping, the transaction should be witnessed

and a contract made between the two parties.

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“Cruel Laws” 

If a son strikes his father, the son’s hands shall be

cut off.

If someone is caught in the act of robbery, then he

shall be put to death.

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What laws can YOU find?

For homework, please research the Code

of Hammurabi and prepare to discuss one

of the craziest laws you can find.