Chapter 3 Social Studies Grade 6

cuneiform

Sumerian writing made by pressing a wedge-shaped tool into clay tablets

Artifact left by the Ubaid people

A form of pottery first discovered in southern Iraq. Associated with advanced chiefdoms and maybe the earliest states in southern Mesopotamia.

Sumer

A region of city-states in Mesopotamia that was home to the first civilization.

Sargon

Also called Sargon the Great. He created the world's first empire. Sargon marched his army across Mesopotamia, conquering one Sumerian city-state at a time, bringing vast lands and varied peoples under his control. Sargon used force and an organized government to maintain control over his empire. He was one of the first 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 and to pay tribute.

Hammurabi

Conquered most of Mesopotamia and formed the Babylonian empire. As king he codified the laws of Sumer and Mesopotamia (died 1750 BC)

What is the Code of Hammurabi?

He collected all the laws of the city-states and organized them into one collection of 282 laws called the Code of Hammurabi. They covered such matters as family relationships, taxes, land and business deals, trade, loans, debts, wages, and crime. Hammurabi changed the old laws that were unfair and made clear those that were confusing. He had the code carved into stone and placed in a public place for everyone to see.

Why do you think Sargon was known as Sargon the Great?

He created the world's first empire. Sargon marched his army across Mesopotamia, conquering one Sumerian city-state at a time, bringing vast lands and varied peoples under his control. Sargon used force and an organized government to maintain control over his empire. He was one of the first 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.

Where did Sumer develop?

In the southern region of the Fertile Crescent, in the valley between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers.

Akkad

Sargon set up his capital at the city of Akkad, in central Mesopotamia. For 55 years, Sargon ruled as emperor of what became known as the Akkadian Empire. Akkad became the most splendid city in all of Mesopotami

Ur

Some of the first cities were Eridu, Uruk, Kish, and Ur had developed by 3500 b.c. The ruins of Ur offer clues to life in the area from about 5000 B.C. to 2000 b.c.

Why Sumerians invented standard measurement for weight

Sumerians developed standard units of measurements for weight and volumes to measure crop harvests and to conduct trade. Farmers no longer had to guess how much wheat or barley they were exchanging for a plow or other product

Babylon

The city-state ruled by Hammurabi.

Ubaid

The first known settlements in southern Mesopotamia formed in about 5000 b.c. Famous for their pottery.

Location of discovery by archaeologists of 4500 year old Sumerian tombs

The tombs at Ur reveal a highly developed society. Artifacts from the tombs showed the skill of Sumerian craftworkers and the existence of long-distance trade. Tombs of royalty and high priests contained valuable items made of precious metals and stones. Tombs of other Sumerians often held such items as jewelry and weapons

Inventions of Sumerians

They created innovations in agriculture, measurements, building, and transportation. They were perhaps the first to use the wheel, the sailboat, and writing. Irrigation, plows, almanacs.

What happened to Sumerians?

They were conquered by an enemy army led by Sargon. Sargon was not a Sumerian, but he had served in the army of the Sumerian king of Kish. Around 2350 b.c., Sargon rebelled against the king and defeated him.

City-state

a city and its surrounding lands that act as a government

Plow

a farm tool having one or more heavy blades to break the soil and cut a furrow prior to sowing

Ziggurat

a rectangular tiered temple or terraced mound erected by the ancient Assyrians and Babylonians

Deity

any supernatural being worshipped as controlling some part of the world or some aspect of life or who is the personification of a force

polytheism

belief in multiple Gods

Social Classes

groups with different levels of importance. The highest social class was made up of the king and his family, nobles, priests, and military leaders. Most Sumerians were members of the middle class, which included merchants, scribes, craftworkers, and farmers. Slaves were at the bottom of Sumerian society.

Nebuchadnezzer

king of Babylon from 605-562 BC; he rebuilt Babylon into a beautiful city noted for its famed hanging gardens

Why are the Sumerians known as problem solvers and inventors?

many innovations, or new ways of doing things. developed new agricultural techniques, such as irrigation, leading to economic surpluses. Simple tools like sickles and hoes were made of clay and copper, later bronze was developed and used to make stronger plows. With stronger plows, farmers could turn soil more easily, which led to larger fields that produced larger crops. Next, farmers found a way to plow and plant at the same time by attaching a funnel filled with seeds to the plow. 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 Sumerians even wrote advice for farmers. In Mesopotamia, archaeologists have found almanacs written on clay tablets. These writings included information that described the best way to plant, to irrigate land, and to care for crops.

scribe

someone employed to make written copies of documents and manuscripts

merchant

someone who buys and sells goods for a living