Civilization Begins in Mesopotamia

By: Laura Boehmer

MesopotamiaThe land “between the rivers.”Was at the eastern end of the Fertile Crescent

Fertile CrescentArc of land from Mediterranean Sea to the Persian Gulf

Sumerians

• Creators of first Mesopotamian Civilization

Polytheistic

• Believing in many gods

City-states

• Basic units of Sumerian civilization

Uruk

• Independent city in Mesopotamia

Ziggurat

• Massive stepped tower

Theocracy

• Government by divine authority

Cuneiform

• Wedge-shaped system of writing

Gilgemesh

• Epic poem of legendary King

Scribe

• Served as copyists, teachers, and jurists

Akkadians

• North of Sumerian city-states

Sargon

• Leader of Akkadians

Empire

• Large political unit/state

Babylon

• City-state South of Akkad

Hammurabi

• Gained control of Sumer and Akkad

Patriarchal

• Men dominated society