Pe Vaia Civilizations in Mesopotamia(GILGAMESH THE KING RETOLD AND ILLUSTRATED BY LUDMILA ZEMAN Sumer was one of the world’s firs! civilizations, The people of Sumer believed in many gods. They also believed that their kings were part god and part human. The following story is about Gilgamesh, a real king who ruled over the ancient Sumerian city-state of Uruk. Over years, many legends formed about Gilgamesh and all that he supposedly did. These legends were passed on as oral tradition for many centuries. The story me of the oldest in the world.cong ago in the land of Mesopotamia, a king by the name of Gilgamesh was sent by the Sun God to rule over the city of Uruk. Gilgamech was part god and part man, He looked human, but he did not know ‘what it was to be human. He had power and wealth but he was not happy. He had everything except friends. He was always alone. Because of this he grew bitter and cruel. (One day, he decided to show how strong and powerful he was and make the people remember him forever. So it was that Gilgamesh ordered a great wall to be built around the city, He ordered the men to leave their jobs and families to work on it. He made the ‘women bring food. Children were kept away s0 no one would stop to play with them. At first, the people helped willingly. Theis king must have good ‘reason for wanting the wall. Was an ‘enemy planning to attack the city? But as the wall got higher and higher, the people grew restless. How high did ithave to be? It went up higher than any wall in the world, but Gilgamesh pushed on day and night. Men fainted from work and hunger. Food grew scarce. ‘The people cried out for mercy, begging. Gilgamesh to stop but he would not listen. In despair, they prayed to the Sun God for help.# The Sun God heard their prayers and ordered the ereation of ancther 4) man as strong as Gilgamesh. His name was Enkidu. He was made from the clay of the earth. Since Gilgamesh had learned nothing from living with B people, Enkidu was sent to live with A the animals ofthe forest. As he got to know the animals, he learned to care for them. But he did not know human kindness for he had never seen ©) another person. ‘The first man Enkidu saw hedid not J like. Itwas a hunter chasing animals through the forest, trying to kill them. Way would anyone want to do that? Enkidu wondered. He rushed to help his friends, He threw the hunter from his chariot and rescued the wounded animals. The hunter ran back to Uruk to warn Gilgamesh about the new danger in the forest. He called Enkidu “the strongest man in the world.” Gilgamesh was furious."There is no one as strong as I am/"he said."Bring this creature to me so I can proveit. will destroy him in front of all the people of Uruk”Gilgamesh prepared to fight Enkidu to the death of one of them. Gilgamesh was certain that it would be Enkidu who met defeat. ‘However, all those who listen to or read the complete legend are in for a surprise. Here's» hint—history tells us that Gilgamesh did not die. Infact, he became a well-liked leader. How do you think the legend ends? How do you think both Gilgamesh and Enkidu change as the legend continues? Write an ending tothe legend. Then find out how the legend really ends, Compare your ending tothe legend'sfxtine lee , : ‘5000 B.C. 4000 Bc. ‘3500 B.c,, ete framgide Eien erininsortara Geouphovtsouber in Sunes Maropsona Masopamia PCy epee The Land eee ae Between Two pene ee Rivers oer) ee fou OURO (A) i 4000 8. witha herd of goats, you and Pe iparieineteedl ieee Serer the ear light of dawn you ee house inthe detance G51 ‘Smoke from cooking fires rises lazily in the warm air renee are of grain blow gently in the breeze. Men are checking rinse thelr tcols for the day’s work and children run here and, Yow: there, playing a game. ioe Thisis the village you and your family have been og seeking, When you reach the nearest house, your father Lid gives the hand signal for “peace” to the people of the ue village. Will your family be welcome to settle here? In Pe Bs feast razr or ‘81700 miles infer, the Eu iver isthe longest sv in southestem Asia ocause ofthe ‘agit. ory climate, he Eupres River inses ‘alage amount of wate tush rapa nd irgeton On at btiomed boat cn wave the shall waters ofthe Expats Re ‘as women prepare their morning meals. Nearby, fields niesTire and Fuphrates Valley chization Ei indus vay enitation > Leasie Seeone stony ry coro Eire vacation mt” , Seon these early farmers learned to Importance of Major | grow supiose oterope Todo ts, they River Systems had to develop new agricultural tech. niques. With food surpluses, some people The world’s major river systems formed could do activities besides farming. This valleys that held a special attraction for allowed people to create more-advanced many early people. The physical settings cultures, leading to early civilizations. of these river valleys supported permanent The enlist civilizations developed in settlements and, in time, eary civilizations, the valleys of four major river systems In these valleys, people found plenty of the Tigris and Euphrates (yoo FRAY=tecz) water fr drinking cooking, and bathing. Rivers in southwestern Asia, the Nile River Fishers speared hooked, and neted fish in northern AVtica, and the Indus River in from the rivers and farmers raised crops southern Asia. Later, one formed along the and give he esockonthewide fr Huang He (WAHNG HUM) of enter Aa fle plains. With so many resources, these D SsuMMARZE Brealey provided peopl with good | ow mie een ep peor _ ple to build permanent settlements setlemere?‘Ancent coasting ofeesian cult (GBB Analyze Maps An early map of Mesopotamia tet was carved ofthe same opin. © Regions What psa festaressuround the Fete Crescent? The Tigris and Euphrates (One of the world’s first civilizations formed in the valley between the Tigris and_| Euphrates Rivers. This civilization arose | Ina land that came tobe known as Sumer (600+me. ‘The land of Sumer lay in the southern part of a region calle the Fertile Crescent Ona map, the Fertile Crescent appears tobe shaped like a crescent moon. Fertile refers tothe rich sol found there. From the Taurus Mountains, the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers flow southeast across the Fertile Crescent. Many tibutaies, or rivers that flow into larger river, join the Tigris. Eventually, the Tigris anc Euphrates Rivers join and flow into the Persian Gulf. | 96 © Unit2 Long ago, the land between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers was known as Mesopotamia, meaning “the land between the rivers.” Northern Mesopotamia sat on the high, lat land of a plateau. Southern “Mesopotamia lay on the lov, flat land of an ‘atuvial plain, a plain formed from fine sol left behind by streams or rivers. In the spring, the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers offen overflowed their banks. AS the floodwaters drained, they deposited soil and tiny rocks on the land to form a ‘new layer of sit. It was on this fertile soi in southern Mesopotamia that the people of Sumer built their civilization. Ssummanze land of southern MesopotamisThe Need for Irrigation ‘The annual flooding of the Tigris and. Euphrates Rivers ensiched the soil, but it ‘could not be counted on to water the farm- ‘es’ crops. When the unpredictable floods ‘came, floodwaters often rushed over the land, destroying crops and livestock as well as sweeping away villages. ‘While northem Mesopotamia received enough rainfall for farmers to grow crops, southern Mesopotarria did not. People in this hot, dry climate had to deal with frequent droughts. Daring these times, the heat of the sun baked the clay soil. Imagine how frustrated the people of southern Mesopotamia must have been, ‘They had plenty of river water near them. but no way to use it to farm the dried-out land. They were at the mercy of the hot sun and unpredictable floods and rainfall. In time, someone realized that itigation Would help solve this problem. So, people in southern Mesopotamia dig canals to carry water from the rivers 0 the land, They also stored water in amas of low land called basins to supply them with water in times of drought. To protect their lands from floods, they put up dies, or walls of dirt, along riverbanks. They also built dams to help control the flow of water. The development ofthese agricultural techniques changed the lives of the people in southern Mesopotamia It allowed ther. to take up farming as a way of life and provided them with ways to produce surpluses of cops. With more than enough food, these carly people developed new, more comple cultures EEO Ssummanze How id he prope tearm odes! wt rough and foods?Ubaid Culture | ‘PPPS 5000 0.c.-1000 v.c. ‘Southern Mesopotamia ‘The first known settlements §in southern Mesopotamia formed in about 5000 8. ‘This culture is known teday as the Ubaid (00*BY-ud) culture. For the most part, the people of the Ubaid culture lived simply, > Ub raising just enough crogs to survive. They used stone hoes to work their fields and lay sickles to harvest their wheat and barley crops. The Ubaid people lived close to their fields in huts made of reeds and mud. They worshipped their gods in small, ‘one-room temples. By about 4500 B.C, this ancient culture had spread across much of the Fertile Crescent. (Over time, the way of life of the Ubaid people began to change The people built Marsh Arabs Today the Maden, or Marsh Arabs, ive ‘near tho lakes and marshes of southern rag, The Marsh Arabs have something In common with the Ubaid people. They depend on many of the sare natural eSources that tne ancient people once ci ‘The wetlands on which the Marsh Arabs. lve have shaped their way of fe. The Marsh Arabs fish, herd water buffalo, and collect reeds for making mats. These mats are used to make canoes, roofs fr their smud-brick houses, and plas to suppor their homes, The Marsh Arabs dry fish for {ood snd for export to other areas where fish are less plentiful, They also depend on ‘waar buffalo for meat and mik production 2s part of ther velinood. SE peter, ‘more-advanced irrigation systems and produced surpluses of crops, “The simple life gave way to one that required rules and organiza~ tion. Leaders were needed, and ‘one person in each commu- nity served as village chief. The Ubaid people began living in larger homes and. building larger temples to honor their many gods. “Atabout this time, the Ubaid people began creating painted pottery. Boats carried the pottery and other trade ‘goods to villages throughout the region. In about 4000 B.C, a new more-advanced culture developed from the Ubaid culture. Stil, the Ubaid culture formed the foun- dation for the civilization that eventually developed in southern Mesopotamia. How did life change forthe people of the culture?From City to Civilization ‘After the Ubaid culture, the people known as the Sumerians developed many ‘new ideas in southern Mesopotamia. These {deas led to complex cultures in the region. By 40(0 a, farming villages had spread in southern Mesopotamia, Using agricultural techniques to produce food ‘surpluses, some villages emerged as the first cities. The cities of Eridu, Uruk, Kish, and Ur tad developed by 3500 B.C. Soon, the Sumerians formed one of Ue world’s first civilzations in Sumer. om ‘What was necessary forthe development ofthe first cities? Lice some other major river systems, the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers gave rise to 1 early civilization. Between these rivers In southern Mesopotamia, the Sumerians developed new ideas for more complex cul- tures there, This lod to one of the werla’s first civilizations in Sumer aa v of early civilizations? 2. Use the torms alluvial pan and sit totoll how agriculture developed in Mesopotam ‘3. What role did the Ubaid people play in the development of Mesopotamiar civilization? ‘CRITICAL THINKING 4. © bo you think that» civilization would have developed in the Tigris and Euphrates Valle if irigation had not been developed there? Explain. '5. From what you have read, how do you think vilagers probably reacted when their villages were washed away? Using maps and reference books, locate and describe the four major river systems discussed inthis lesson. For each river, write down its souree ts length, the body of wator it cempiies into, and the present-day countries it flows through. Ze On a seperate sheet of paper, copy aind ‘complete the graphic organizer below.Map and Globe Skills Read a Land Use and Products Map D> WHY IT MATTERS Like the early Mesopotamians, the people who live in southwestern Asia today depend on their land and natural resources to survive. How do they use the land? What kinds of natural resources does the region have? What kinds of products do southwestem Asians make with those Source! of thearewersyoumigh tase a map that shows how land is used and where produets are made ‘D WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ‘The map on the next page is a land use and products map of present-day south- ‘western Asia, This is the same area that > Aman hrs his ack of sheep in nthe kag ‘was once home to some of the world’s cearliest towns and cities. Colors on the map show land tse, or ‘what is dore with most of the land in a particular place or region. Study the map key to learn which color stands for each kind of land use. ‘The picture symbols on the map show ‘some of the products made in southwest- ‘em Asia today. Study the map key to lear. which aymbol stands far each product. ‘The map cennot show exactly how all land in southwestern Asia is used or every prod- ‘uct made there. Instead, the map shows the main uses of the land and the major produets ofthe region.D PRACTICE THE SKILL (HRY Look at the map and the map key to answer these questions. © What are two crops that farmers grow in southwestern Asia? © What kinds of products are manusac- tured in southwestern Asia? © Where is most of the litle-used land in southwestern Asia? Why do you think itis tle used? © Where is most of the petroleum found in southwestern Asia? © Which land uses and products shown in the map key might be the same on a land use and products map of early ‘Mesopotamia? Ciena INDIAN OCEAN Farming and graing (Ea Forests i Uitte used and ‘Chemis Cotton Coal Dates lecrones Food processing Grapes Metaiworks Natural gas le 0 mS >-0G0e88 De i dé D APPLY WHAT YOU LEARNED (GiB Do research at the library or on the Intemet to find a land use and products, ‘map for the United States. Compare the resources found in southwestern Asia to the ones found in the United States. How do you think life is different in these two parts ofthe world, based on the resources ‘and land uses in each? UY ETRE 8 Co) eas CLS et @ meee Chapter 3» 101Lesson @ ae Independent Sumerian City-States eS ‘The year is 1933, and you're hard at work on an archaeological dig in Iraq. Uncovering the the ancient Sumerian city of Ur is exciting ». work. So far, you and your team have found what seem . to be royal tombs. You have identified beautiful head- Pent dresses of gold and jewels, golden cups, and even bones Poo of people w lived there. You wonder what the | people's lives were like, what they thought about, how | they dressed, and what they ate. You know that the art facts you are finding may help answer these questions. This phot, ake in 195, shows the excevaton ofthe ety of Ut(BB Anlyce Maps Sumerian city-states were tocated within the lergerrgion of ‘Mesopotamia, Mesopotamia sparta the Fri Crescent. ‘© What pysial features made Sumer» good place to sete? The Emergence of Cities In southern Mesopotamia, Sumerian ‘ities such as Us, Kish, Uruk, and Eridu Proved to be very successful. Economic ‘surpluses allowed these and other cities ‘to emerge as centers of culture and power. By 3000 B.C, about 12 cities in Sumer had developed into the world's frst city-states. In ancient times, a eity-state included a walled city and the land around it, such as farmland, Each also had its own government: Inside clearly marked bor- ders, most early city-states covered several square miles and had populations of about 5,000 people. Over time, some city-states grew to more than 1,500 square miles, with Populations of as many as 60,000 people. Although each Sumerian city-state was independent, the people shared a common culture. They followed similar religious practices, spoke the Sumerian language, and developed a writing system. They also created buildings, art, and crafts that were lunique to Sumerian society. ‘The Sumerians and earlier people ofthe region made achievements in technology as well. Many advances, such as irrigation, helped them produce economic surpluses. All this ied tothe development of an ‘early civilization in Sumer. Overtime, this civilization would spread throughout “Mesopotamia. EDULE Ssummanize ‘What were to man fetures of Sumerian ely sit? Chapter 3 » 103Government and Religion ‘The first political, or government, struc- ‘tre of each city-state was made up of a ‘small group of leaders and a chief leader ‘chosen by the group. Together, they made laws, decided what work had to be done, and dealt with disputes over land or water rights. While some disputes were settled peacefully, others led to war. When faced with war, the different lead- ‘ers who ruled a city-state could not always agree about what to do. It became clear that a single leader was needed. This led the Sumerians to form the world’s first ‘monarchy, or governing system ruled by ‘a king ora queen. In Sumerian city-states, the rulers were always kings. ‘When a king died, his son became the new king. This change made Sumerian morarchles more stable than previous kinds cf government. From a walled palac, the king gov- cemed firmly. He had complete authority, or power, over religion, the economy, and everyday life. The king appointed officials to carry out his orders, often concerning economic surpluses and building projects. Below the king priests were the most important people in society. Sumerians practice polytheism, the belief in many gods, They believed that each natural event. had its own god and that one god pro tected each diferent city-state. A temple was builtin the center ofthe city-state to ‘worship that god. At temples, the priests held ceremonies to please the gods, espe- cially those connected to agriculture. This religious structure was central to life. ‘What naw governing sytem came tobe used in Sumer?A Commercial Society ‘The cities of Sumer buzzed with activity. ‘Their economic structures were based on economic surpluses. The ability to create ‘surpluses led to new kinds of jobs, to the production of new goods, and to trade. Surpluses of crops enabled some Sumer- ians to perform work other than farming, In each city, some people became craft- workers, metalworkers, and builders. Finding raw materials for these workers was not always easy—neither metals nor trees could be found in Sumer. To get raw ‘materials, the city-states exported agricul- tural surpluses such as grains and dates. In exchange, Sumerians impor‘ed metals, ‘wood, and other resources. ‘Sumerians depended on long-distance trade. Groups of traders traveled together ‘on long journeys. These earavans carried ‘trade goods by donkeys throughout the Fertile Crescent and beyond. Later, traders ‘used sailboats to carry goods on waterways to distant places. By 2300 B.C,, Sumerian trade extended from Fgyptand the east- em Mediteranean to paps asf the Indus Valley in whats now Pakistan ‘The Sumerians neededa way to keep track of what they traded They began to use clay tokens to record iade. Later they recorded such information on cay tablets. EEGIEIED cause ano errecr ‘Why were the Sumerians ableto perform work Caravan Caravans traveled between sotoments to supply m with needed goods. © Coravans tat one place ‘otrave tothe next.Discoveries at Ur PPEIID 5000.8. to 2008.0. Ur Long ago, the city of Urlay close to the Euphrates River, but the river has changed its course many times through the years. ‘Today, the land where the ity once stood is now 12 miles from the Euphrates, and its once fertile fields are partof a desert. Even s0, the ruins of Ur offer clues to life in the area from about 5000 B.C. to 2000 B.C, Beginning in the 1920s, British archae- ‘ologist named Leonard Woolley led an ‘excavation at Ur. He and his team uncov- ered many different layers in the ruins. Each layer held artifacts from a different period of Ur's history. In the deepest layer, archaeologists found the remains of an Ubaid village. Above that 106 © Unit 2 ‘When Leonard Wooley and ‘may frentlayrs. Each layer provided a gimpos ito the lies of iferont people who lived at diferent tines atthe location. ‘Ub community Eight fete mad © Wat canbe learned from staying each ayer? um dug up te ruins of Us thoy found ‘Tae Royal Tombs of Ur Pain of med ik buildings layer was 8 feet of mud, evidence that a flood destroyed Ur soon after it was built. After the flood, the Sumerians rebuilt Ur. In the ruins of the rebuilt city, Woolley and his team found the Royal Cemetery of Ur, ‘which held tombs from the 2500s B.C. ‘The tombs at Ur reveal a highly devel- coped society. Artifacts from the tombs showed the skill of Sumerian craftwork- cers and the existence of long-distance trade. Tombs of royalty and high priests contained valuable items made of pre- cious metals and stones. Tombs of other Sumerians often held such items as jewelry and weapons. Discoveries at Ur included a large temple that was dedicated to the Sumerian moon god, Nanna, The temple's architecture, or building style, followed that of temple ruins found at the sites of other city-states.oe I fi rey nN Team Sire) ‘The rest ofthe city consisted of small mud- brick houses built along narrow alleys ‘The highest layer of ruins dates from about 2000 F.C. At that time, the Euphrates changed course and Ur was abandoned, 0 tonbs at Ur reveal about the city’s the world’s frst city-statas liko? 2. Write a senton:e that includes the terms ‘itystate and monarchy. ‘3. When and why was Ur abandoned? ‘4. What tools did the Sumerians use to keep tack of trade, and how do you think they used them? (CRITICAL TaMKING ‘5. EB What clues do you think led archaeologists to conclude thet a terrible flood had destroyed Ur? 6. How might archaeologists have krown which tombs at Ur were thase of royalty Or priests and which tombs were nol? Sener ty Seen Some Sumerian cities grew into city: states, which led to an early civilization in Mesopotamia, The Sumerians had an advanced government, economy, and society. The discoveries at Ur show much about how the Sumerians lived. 7% Using th \ information about Ur in this lesson, write an essay that explains the importance of religion in Sumerian city-states. Tell how archaeological discoveries at Ur support ‘your explanation, On a separate sheet of paper, copy and complete the graphic organizer below. 107Agricultural Techniques ‘The people of Mesopotamia, especially the Sumerians, are remembered for their many innovations, or new ways of doing things. For example, early farmers devel- oped new agricultural techniques, such as irrigation, leading to economic surpluses. At first, the Mesopotamian used only simple technology for farming. Early tools, such as sickles and hoes, were made of clay | and copper. In time, metalworkers started ‘mixing copper with tin to produce bronze, which is much stronger than copper alone By 2500 8, many farmers were using ‘bronze tools such as bronze-tipped plows. With stronger plows, farmers could tum soil more easily, which led to larger fields that produced larger crops. ‘Next, farmers found a way to plow and plant atthe same time by attaching, 4 funnel filed with seeds to the plow. The Simerian developed an agricul ‘wcniue called shade panting, Ty lead ‘cops inthe shade of tl wes to pote than rte sun ad wind. Today tara sil ue ‘tae planting to grow crop. oi photo | yap, farmesin hat snow Bagh, ta, hres prey gn sng shade lating [As the plow moved along each row, the seeds were released from the funnel. This agricultural technique allowed fewer farmers to plant more crops. ‘The Samerians even wrote advice for farmers. In Mesopotamia, archaeologists have found almanacs written on clay tablets. These writings included informa- tion thal described the best way to plant, to irrigaie land, and to care for crops. (One ancient Sumerian almanac contained these instructions: GWhen you are about to cultivate ‘your field, take care to open the irrigation works [so that] their water does not rise too high {im it}. 99° ae Ssummarize ‘What gricataral techniques helped the ‘Mesopctanians produce economic surpluses? ett ho ith Chapter 3 = 109Measurements (Growing city-states needed larger farms to feed all the people. Because of this, land ‘became more important than ever to the early Sumerians. City officials wanted to know how much land each farmer used. 30 that they could keep accurate records. Farmers, to0, wanted to know how much land they had so that they could clearly mark the boundaries of their farms. These needs led the Sumerians to develop standard measurements of land. ‘One measure of land area was an iku, also known as the ikum, meaning “the field.” An iku equaled about 37,600 square feet. The idea of the present-day acre, ‘which equals 43,560 square feet, comes from the ik. Sumerians also developed standard units of measurements for weight and volume, including the quart. They used these units to measure crop harvests and to conduct trade. Farmers no longer had to guess how rmuch wheat or barley they were exchang- ing fora plow or other product “Measurements required acaeflly planned number system. The Sumerians based their number system on the number 6, Our division of time into hours, min- tutes and seconds came from this system. ‘The Sumerians even found away f0 measure time By abut 21008, the Sumerians counted of days in a year, Using a 360-day calendar ‘What advance in mesuromrts the Somerians eel?Building Because southern Mesopotamia had few trees, people used the resource they had plenty of for building mud, The Sumerians formed bricks out of mud, let them dry, and then used them to build everything from houses to large temples ‘Most Sumerian lived in simple flat roofed, mud-brick houses. Groups of houses were built close together, all facing an open court Ther thick walle kept them ool in summer and warm in winter ings and othe people of high rank lived in larger houses of two or more stories. Artists made beautiful clay-tle designs to decorate the walls ofthe houses, The largest and tallest building in every city-state was the siggurt (711-gulrat), This temple developed from the simple, one-room temples ofthe Ubaid culture. In describing the city of Ur, archaeologist ‘Leonard Woolley wrote, city (Ur] was the Ziggurat.. an artificial mountain’ ‘The oustanding feature ofthe | er echo of cies grew. Builders constructed the td-brickziggunt in layers. Some temples stood as high as seversiory buildings. At the tp ofeach zggura stood a shrine for the city’s special god. Palaces for kings and houses for priests often stood inside a wall that surrounded the ziggurat. Over time, the Sumerians began buld- ing smaller buildings along the outside wall ofthe ziggurat Some were shops, oth- ers were workshops and stil others were homes, Many city-states also place parks ‘near their zigurat, Soon the zigguratand the area around itbecame the busy center ofthe city, Today, wind-eroded ruins ae all thats left ofthese ancient buildings. ow do igure show tat align was important tothe Semaine? Some hstrian belive ‘hat riggrats wore built represent mvonain. ‘Tres and beshes may have coveredthe put Smllrballings stood ofthe iggurat. © Why do you thik iggrats wore bait inteyerst 9 the outDevelopment of Cunciform Carica fen (EB Analyze Tables Cuneiform developed trom an ‘nn system of pctograps. The ilustaton ight) shows a seibe writing cuneiform on clay tablet. © ln which cotuma tate chart above de the symbols ‘nok moe ike the objects they represen? Transportation ‘Archaeologists found the world’s oldest ‘wheels in Mesopotamia, dating to about 3500 B.C. The Sumerians were the first toattach wheels to carts. They built to wheeled and four wheeled carts and chariots piled by oxen ar donkeys. For long journeys over land, traders in Mesopotamia led caravans of donkeys. Following the same paths over and over again, they established trade routes. For water travel the Mesopotamians built various kinds of boats. Their earliest ‘boat was shaped like a basket and built from reeds and covered by animal skins. ‘Amast and sail were inthe center ofthe boat, making it perhaps the world’s first sailboat. People also built canoe-shaped ‘boats that they guided with poles. DRAW CONCLUSIONS: How di now forms of transpetaton change peoples ives? 492 © Unit 2 Co To Pca Writing and Literature ‘The Sumerians made the first known ‘written records. The earliest known writ- ing was found on aclay tablet in Kish that dates to about 3500 BC. On the tablet are picture symbols that recorded trade. Hundreds of clay tablets found atthe city of Uruk provide evidence that by Es a writing system, This system was based on euneiform(kyoo-NEE-uhefawrm), or wedgestaped symbols. Each of the | 700 symbol stood fora different syllable land was based on a spoken sound. ‘At that time, few people knew how to write. Because of this, seribes, or people who recorded things for others, became {important Sribes used sharpened reeds to write in cuneiform on soft clay. ‘Writing made developments of the ‘Sumerian government, economy, and society possible. With writing, scribesWis statue igh ‘ofthe ancient Ser king Gilgamesh, whe recorded boundary lines, wars, lists of kings, and gifts to temples. They also kept records of trade and food supplies. Later, scribes recorded literature, writing down songs and stories. The most famous tale is the Epic of Gilgamesh, a story about legendary King Gilgamesh, Ssummanvze ‘How did wrtng help make the dovolopment of civilization possible? 1. 1@) wnat were the achievements of ‘people in Mesopotamia? 2. Use the terms sete and eureiform In a sentence to describe how writing affected ‘Sumerian society. ‘3. Why was it important for the Sumerians 10 hhave food surpluses each yaar? CORITEAL THINKING 4, GE How did importing metals affect ite in Sumer? Which cf the Sumerian innovations do YoU thick was the most important? Why? Mesopotamia, especially the ‘Sumerians, made many achievements. ‘They created innovations in agriculture, ‘measurements, building, and wansporta- tion, They were parhaps the first to use the wheel, the sailboat, and writing These innovations helped the people of Mesopotamia build an early civilization. 6. &\ Make a List Using the information inthis lesson, make alist ofthe Information that scribes recorded. © soumance (On a separate sheet of paper, copy and ‘compete the graphic organizer below. Chapter 3» 113a ‘Sa 2300s 2000 nc. 1 Sumer iy sae ner crates Tha aestinownrecrd lawton poor ‘Mtoe mae Ee = Daily Life ea in Sumer Ot Pareto) Perera a , Tene) '¢5 2300 8.c. You've been learning metalworking from your father. You begen by watching him carefully melt copper and tin together to make bronze. eenetned ‘Then he showed you how to hammer the hot bronze eo bin into different shapes. You've practiced using his tools so much that they now seem like parts of your own hands, Hinetes Finally, your father says that the bronze cups you've. ary made are good enough to sell or trade. At last, this is the day you've been waiting for! Yor going to the marketplace to sell your very own cups. You fnNary be wonder how many you'll sell and how much silver you'll cet for them Cee Aaciont Sumerian fgerines a Ear SeniSiren emir) ‘Sumerian metal verkars discovered how take brome from tin nd coppt ‘Works tring tn oe and © Tin and copper ae melted ‘copper er am nines. Infurnaces to make bronze. Workers parte the ‘Metabworkrs hammer the ‘metals rom the or. ‘bronze into shape. © How dees the ustation above show the dono the division of tbor? Life in a City-State Picture an ancient Sumerian city. Imagine the glistening ziggurat that stood in the center of the city. All around the ziggurat were temples and other buildings. The ‘Sumerian cities were centers for trade, government, and religion, and the area around the ziggurat was where much of this happened. ‘Without agriculture, Sumerian city-states could not have survived or grown. People in the cities relied on the work of farmers, ‘herders, and fishers, who lived in small villages or towns near the cities. Each day, they brought meat, fish, grain, and fruit to city markets. They produced more than enough food fr themselves and the growing populations in the cities. City dwellers often lived indifferent parts ofthe city, depending onthe kind of work they did For example, craftworkers set up shop ina part of the city with others ho did similar work. Their small shops lined the marrow streets, and often craft- workers and their families lived above or behind their shops. They passed ther skills down from generation to generation. Some hardly ever left their part of the city. Wy were any Samerians abet do wrk other ‘than farming? Chapter 3 © 115Government and Law The ruler's palace and the homes of important people were built close to the ziggurat. From the palace, offic governed the city’s day-to-day activities Besides controlling surpluses of food and collecting taxes, the officials settled dis putes and took part in making new laws. They also oversaw the building of temples and monuments. For the most part, everyone in Sumer had certain rights under the law. However, to pay for wars fought against other city- states, officials sometimes took away peo- ple’s rights to their property. The officials claimed people's land, cattle, and boats, and made people pay taxes on everything, including burials. In the 2300s 8.C., Urukagina (oo*roo+kahGEE*na), the ruler of the city-state of Lagash, made some changes. He created laws to prevent government leaders or the wealthy from taking advantage of the poor. ‘About 300 years later, UrNammu, the ruler of Ur, made changes related to that city-state's laws, All of the laws were writ- ten in the form of if-then statements. Ur Nammmu ordered his seven laws carved onto a stone monument for all to se. This, informed the people of Ur of both the laws and the punishment for breaking, the laws. Today UrNammu’s monument still exists. Iti the oldest-known record of ancient laws. nD overnment officials pay for wars?Specialization and Trade ‘Ap more people began living perma- rently in one place, they developed new ‘ways of working together to make their lives easier. In Sumerian cities, this change happened, in part, by increased specializa- tion in the division of labor. Wren people specialized, they learned all of the information and skills necessary to do cone job well. Then, people traded their services or the goods that they made with others. ‘A few people studied to become priests, government officials, doctors, and scribes. Managers and government officials supervised the work of others. They oversaw irrigation, building projects, and the storage and distribution of food. ‘They also were responsible for schools and tax collection. | Most officials were specially trained as | ‘scribes. Scribes kept records, wrote letters for others, and wrote down stories and song. Because scribes controled informa- fon they became very powetl Simeranerafworkers used natural resoures to make everyday odets and ary goods. Jewelers used apis lal (Lara ravauhsee) a high pried blue stone, o fashion necklaces, Carpenters bul ships out of wood brought fom other pisces. These ships then carr goods up anc down the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers Sil others tne as weavers potter, stonemasons, ethervorker bricklayer, and metalworkere Merchants bought and sold goods o make ving. Sumerian merchants raed within the atl Crescent and even as faraway asthe Mediterranean Sex, The Sumerians traded what they fad in surplus-whet barley, ad etal tos Inseam, they got resources tey wanted, including wood, sl preciousstones, and raw copper and tn. (ED ns meet thor daily wants?Pleasing the Gods ‘Sumerians did not know what caused events in nature. They could not predict dust storms, swarms of insects, or floods. However, they fully understood that when these forces of nature hit, they might lose their crops, their homes, or even their lives. ‘Sumerians worshipped gods, or deities, that they believed could control nature. In the hopes of avoiding natural disasters, they offered gifts of animals, fruits, and ‘grain to the deities. They hoped their gifts ‘would persuade the deities to protect them. ‘The Sumerians believed in thousands of gods. The most important were the air god, Enlil, and the water god, Enki, who was Iso the god of wisdom. Woy di the Sumerians offer gifts to deities? Social Structure (Over time, anciant Sumerian society became divided into social classes, oF ‘groups with different levels of importance. ‘The highest social class in Sumer was made up of the king and his family, nobles, priests, and military leaders. ‘Most Sumerians were members of ‘the middle class, which included mer- chants, scribes, craftworkers, and farmers. ‘Sumerians were not locked into a certain class for their entire life. Instead, successful people could rise to a higher class. Slaves were at the bottom of Sumerian society. Often, enemies in battle became slaves, Also, Sumerians who owed money could sell themselves into slavery. After ‘working off their debt, they could buy back. their freedom. TIE ‘This diagram vue a ggurat show tho socal onor of classes in Sumerian city The ing and his family, nobles, priests, and wit ladors Merchants scribes, raftworkere, RORSumerian Children hilden in ancient Sumer enjoyed Swémeing in fivers and playing games. In the ruins of Sumer ‘2cheeoiogsts have even found a board game that ‘they cal the Royal Game of Ur Life for Sumerian chidten was octal fr end ‘gomes. Before the age of ten, boys were usualy ‘Sent 1b work with their fathers. Girls stayed home to heb their mothers, In this way, they leamed their adit roles. Boys from wealthy families attended school to lear teeing, wsitng, and math. Fev gis from ‘wealtry families attended scnool ‘Sumerian women had more rights and freedoms than women in many ocher ancient civilizations. In addition fo running. their households, Sumerian women could ‘own property run businesses, divorce ‘cruel husbands, and train tobe priestesses cor scribes EEUIBED Ssummenze How could Simerians change thoi socal clas? 1:05 eae totes Sofi dna 2. Use the term deity in paragraph to ‘describe Sumerian religious beliefs, 3. What role did merchants play in the ‘Sumerian economy? (CRITICAL TCG 4, BEB why do you think city life contributed ‘to new social roles? Make It Relevant How are the roles of children in the present-day United States similar to and different from those in, Sumerian socioty? The Sumerian cities were centers for trade, religion, and government. City life ‘was supported by the food farmers pro- vided and by the work done by government officials. Sumerians worshipped many gods that represented nature. Overtime, social clazsos developed in Sumerisn cocioty. 6. ll Make 2 Chart Make a chart t show the Sumerian social classes. Then use. ‘your chert to explain toa classmate the relationship between Sumerian religion ‘and its soctety and government. 7. © ‘SUMMARIZE On a separate shest of paper, copy and complete the graphic organizer below. [om [onanPor) Peony freon ent Pee od eed eae ee ed Pree cote Paes een Prete SoC pent) ere aa eee oe Come ay ans foe cee Cita a & sunmanze ery Eco rene <=, [prea ne. Tac ee Sugars Hammurabi res the Masopotcie The First Empires ‘You Tincme) "is 1775 2.c. You hurry toward the center of the city, following a rapidly growing crowd. A new stone marker, or stela, is being put in place. Like every: ‘one else, you want to see what the stela shows. ‘As you push your way to the front of the crowd, you can see a carving at the top of the stela. It shows the noble king, Hammurabi, standing before the sun god, ‘Shamash. The rest of the stela is covered with words describing laws. Some are new, but you recognize oth: ers from the old tablets that you've read in school. Hammurabi has given his people an organized code of laws!The Akkadian Empire FORIMD zs02. | Mescootamia | ‘The Sumerian city-states wanted the ‘wealth that came from contrelling land and water, Because ofthis, they were often at war with one another. Eventually, an enemy army did come to onquer the Sumerians. The leader ofthe army that attacked the Sumerian city-states was Sargon (SARegahr), Sargon was nota Sumerian, but he hha serve in the army of the Sumerian king of Kish. Around 2350 8, Sargon rebelled against the king and defeated him. ‘Then, Sargon marched his army across Mesopotamia, conquering one Sumerian “city-state at atime. In doing so, he created the world’s first empiee, bringing vast lands and varied peoples under his control Sargon setup his capital at the city of “Alekad (Akad), in central Mesopotamia. For 55 years, Sargon ruled as emperor ‘of what became known as the Akkadian (uhsKaysdeevuhn) Empire. Akkad became the most splendid city in all of Mesopotamia, Sargon used force and an organized government to maintain control over his empire. He was one of the frst rulers to keep a standing army, a permanent army of paid soldiers. Sargon chose officials who he knew would remain faithful and appointed loyal nobles as governors to control conquered cities. Each governor provided Sargon with tribute collected from the conquered People. Tribute is a required payment from one ruler to a more powerful ruler. ‘This tribute brought much wealth under Sargon’s control. ‘The Akkadian Empire lasted for more ‘than 200 years after Sargon’s death. In about 2300 B.C, the empire stretched from. what is now Iran to the Mediterranean Sea. Iteventually fell, and Sumer’s city-states once again became independent. | ‘Ssummanize ow did Sargon maintain contol aver bis _ Sargon et leads hs army iat ate, Trough conquest he brought new ands and people under his contolEqual Justice In edition to puting together a code of laws, Hammurabi intodce ha dea of eau juste, orf treatment, under ‘the laws, Hs equl justice, however, was ited to easel iy within each soci class, Under the Code of Hammurabi, ‘members ol the wing ass were favored over people of bother classes, The punishments they received were offen lighter ten those recelvod by other people. At that tine, thie wos considered far and st, Today the United States, Consttuton provides for equal treatment for al people without regard fora person’ postin in our society. Hammurabi and the ee ae Babylonian Empire wages, and crime. Hammurabi changed the old laws that Pee were unfairand made clea those that were confusing. He had the code carved into stone and placed ina public place for everyone to see. To Hammurabi, the code represented a way to rule Between 1790 B.C. and 1750 8.C., Hammurabi (harmuh+RAH*bee), the king of the city-state of Babylon, conquered and ‘united most of Mesopotamia under his rule. In this way, he formed a large empire that became known as the Babylonian Empire. ‘As emperor, Hammurabi both encour- aged trade and oversaw agriculture, iriga- Some of the laws followed the idea of tion, and building projects. In addition, he | “an eye for an eye.” These laws called for changed the tax system so that all people in punishments that matched the crimes that (Géso thatthe strong should not harm the weak. 99” the empire paid a fair share. hhad been committed. Fo: example, a per Hammurabi is perhaps best remem- son who broke someone's arm in a fight bered for organizing the laws of his land. __woulkl be punished by having his or her Each city-state had long had its own laws. arm broken, Hammurabi’ code lasted Hammurabi collected all these laws, sorted over the years, but his empire did not. them,and came up with one collection of By about 1600 B.C, the Babylonian Empire laws known as the Code of Hammurabi had fallen, ‘The Code of Hammurabi consisted of Ssummanze 282 laws. They covered such matters as How did Hammurabi organize the laws of Babylon? 122 © Unit2Kassite and Assyrian Rule After the fall ofthe Babylonian Empire, several different groups invaded and ruled ‘Mesopotamia. In the 1600s B.., the Hittites, armed with war chariots and iron weapons, captured and looted Babylon. ‘The Hittites soon returned to their home- land, and their neighbors, the Kassites, moved in and conquered Babylon. They ruled the city for more than 500 years. The Kassites adopted Babylonian laws, religion, and literature, which helped Babylonian culture live on. In time, the Assyrian Empire gained con- ‘tol of the region. The Assyrians had a great desire to control the tade routes in south- ‘western Asia. Their mastery over powerful ‘new weapons helped them meet this goal From the Hittites, they had learned how to make and use iron weapons and war chariots. The Assyrian army introduced the battering ram, a heavy wooden beam used to break down walls. They were also among the first to use the lance, a spear attached to a long handle. ‘One by one, the Assyrians conquered. their neighbors. By the 700s B.,, the ‘Assyrians ruled the largest empire in the ‘world. They controlled all of Mesopotamia, as welll as lands in present-day Turkey, Egypt, and the Persian Gulf Under the rule of Nebuchatnerar, or OC rcs TE — Sabyonian empire Ssoemoac” iseatse ‘Acs pea, the Assyrian Empire stretched more than 1500 miles. ° ographic feature may have stopped the Assyrians rom expanding soubward? ‘The Assyrians were great imovators, Assyrian kings united their huge empire by building the world’s first system of paved roads and developing a postal system. The Assyrians were the first to make locks that operied with keys. apa te ETT‘They also invented the magnifying glass Ela and built the first libraries. In 609 BC,, the Aseyrian Empire fell to its enemies, and the New Babylonian Empire \n for resources gave riseto 1 in Mesopotamia. Sargon rose in its place. One of this empire's built the regions first empire, the Akkadian best-known rulers was Nebuchadnezzar Empire, The Babylonian Empire grew under (nebsuhskuhd+NEZ-er). He is believed Hammurabi, who is remembered for tis to have built the terraced garden known code of laws. Over time, the Kassites and as the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. This the Assyrians also built empires in the garden is remembered as one of the Seven region, Wonders ofthe Ancient World. ‘MAIN IDEA AND DETAILS: | ‘What helped the Assyrians gain conol of rade? > Stilod chariot divrs and archers helped the Assyrians wi and hoop their empire. 1G How did the frst empires develop. Classroom Code With a group in Mesopotamia? > of classmates, come up with a code aaa oa af dosoroom rule. is make ast of — ‘les with your group. Then, pick the five ‘most Important ules, and diapay thom ‘3. What were the majo accomplishments eosin of the Assyrian Empire? © sommanze ‘separate sheet of paper, copy and ‘complete this graphic organizer. CRITICAL THINKING 4, [EIB why do you think early empires needed a standing army? 5. Make It Relevant Hammurabi had taws yes) it written down and made open to the public, ‘any governments do today. HOW practice important to meintaining ‘equality and justice? 124 © Unit2Hammurabi “(The gods] called by name me, Hammurabi, the exalted prince, ... to bring about the rule of righteousness in the land.?”* ee ee ted Men of what we know about Hammurabi was written by the leader himselt. The words above are part of Han:murabi's introduction to his famous Code of Laws. Peshaps th best-known Principle of the code isthe one called “an eye for an eye.” This Principle means that anyone causing injury to another person ‘would be punished withthe same injury. Hammurabi wrote that he was a religious ‘man who had helped make the Babylonian Why Empire wealthy. He also told of his suc Character cess a a wartor. However, the strongest Counts theme in Hammurabi’s writings is faimess. | © How did Hammurabi called himself “the shepherd |) Hammurab show ‘of the oppressed and of the slaves.” He said fairmess in how he that he had “brought about the well-being pies ofthe oppressed” and mentioned that he had spared the lives of people who lived BESRTGRE* in the lands he conquered. These state- yi Scsertnestaus ments show Hammurabi’ belief tat al ain people—aven the defeated and the Powerless—deservs protection and justice Hammurabi knew that it would not be right to doeverything, that he had the power to da He could have lt the poor starve, denied rights to the powerless, and killed conquered people. Instead, his actions were guided by fairness a Hammurabi Hamenurebe becomes king rule end with his dah of Babylonian Empro cy Peete en abel Teen tiey aes] Ley Compare Tables D WHY IT MATTERS: Using a table isa good way to eassiy, ‘or group, items of information. When infor- mation is shown in a table, you can easily find and compare specific facts, such as figures and dates. > WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW When you read about early empires, you learned many names, dates, and other facts. ‘You learned when empires were founded, ‘who their founders were, what the names >is wa of their capital cities were, and when the empires ended. This kind of information ‘can be shown in a table to make it easier to find and compare facts about the empires. ‘The tables on the next page classify {information about early empires, The same {information is shown in both tables, but each table classifies the information in a different way. Table A lists the empires in. alphabetical order. In Table B, the empires are listed according to the order in whichi > Petras a Wort et noun maoec-nmsc Wes Fen tn be paveoate na Asovias suc cone, fra devloed Ene tales os, nd the magna glass ‘avanconatn Baty sg ac.—iswsec meena on en eon as © Sees Baylonon 9a nc.-s0986 nore D PRACTICE THE SKILL (GER Use Tables A and B to answer these questions © Whick empice was the eariest empire? Which table did you useto find this information? Why? © Which empires were founded after the Babylonian Empire ended? © Which empire developed a postal system? © What are the advantages and dised- vantages of using each table? Explain your answer. D APPLY WHAT YOU LEARNED ‘Make a table that compares the early civilizations that you have learned about in this chapter. Use the Internet or other sources tofind out more about these civilizations. Compare your finished table with that ofa classmate, ueineniia ins Cito aaa smosc-amnc | Mite ‘woe -tisacBebvean noe sunc-earsc Aion 25ac-sm08cpabiien nove oes Wont fratknon | ovenenantin Imam and evo ose otHanme Fes ciation bot postal system ons, te te maging gas Chart and Graph SkillsReading Social Studies Won you sunmarn, you tl a shortaned version of what you have rad Summarize Complete this grapnic organizer to show that you can summarize the achievements of the Mesopotamians. A copy of this graphic ‘organizer appears on page 34 of the Homework and Practice Book. Mesopotamian Achievements (os Improved irrigation and farming tools Summary [even Developed a writing system A California Writing Prompts Write a Narrative Imagine that you area Write a Persuasive Advertisement Imagine reporter in arcient Sumer. Sumerian has buit tht you are a Mesopotamian trader. Choose one the frst wheeled cart. Compose @ narrative story of more goods that you trade, and write a per- ‘announcing this innovation. Invent details such as | suasive advertisement for your business. Provide tho built the cart and how that person expects | detalls that deserbe th quali of your goad in the invention to affect people's Ives. help persuade peopl to buy them. 128 © Unit2ene Ire 00a. Sumerians develop ‘ystem of wring based on cuneiform CEST Use each term in a sentence or two to explain ‘both what the term means and how that ‘meaning relates tothe civilizations described in this chapter. 1. plateau. 98 2 caravan (p. 105) 3 innovation jp. 109) 4 deity ip. 118) 5. empire ip. 120 Tete s ‘Use the summary time line above to swe ew eros 6. About how many years passed between the boginning of Ubaid culture and the development of Sumerian writing? 7. What happened in 1790 8.02% TSS ead a Land Use and Products Map Study the land use and products map ‘onpage 101 and answer this question. 8. What products do you thnk the counties of southwestern Asia sll to counties in ather parts ofthe world? aos 8c. Assyrians ru the largest empire in tha world easy ‘Answer these questions. ‘9. What achievements in technolo people in Mesopotamia produce economic surpluses? 10, Inwhich four major river systems did the last civizations develop? 11, How did the Sumerians try to please their gods? ‘Wie the letter ofthe best choic 12. In ancient Sumer, who were pat ofthe highest social class with the king? ‘A nobles, priests, end military leaders B scribes and farmers soldiers, merchant, and craftworkers D traders and slaves Who ruled the world’s first empire? A Akad B Hammurabi © Kish D Sargon Giants ae ‘What factors do you think caused Hammurabi to put together a code ‘of laws? 15. ER How do you think the work of SL aichasologist Leonard Wooley changed people's interpretation ofthe Iistory of southwestern Asis? Chapter 3 = 120N Study Skills Visuals can help you understand and remember the infor mation you read and may give you additional information. Photographs, illustrations, maps, diagrams, graphs, and charts a all visuals. Many visuals have titles. captions, orlabets that help readers understand whatis shown. Visuals often show information ina different way than it appears in ‘the tax. They may also add new information that is not inthe text. What kind of visual is used? | pholograph of pyramids ‘What does the visual show? a scene in Egypt ‘What does the visual tell you about the subject? It lls me what the pyrmids bok tke How does the visual help you better understand ‘the subject of what you are reading? PFN i obs ‘As you read this chapter, iook closely at the visualle and their ‘captions, Answer the questions in the checklist to understand how a visual helps you as you read. 9 Calflora Hatry-Socia Science Standaci, Grade i