Civilization

Case Study: Ur in Sumer

Do Now
Wrap

up from yesterdayWhat is the best adaptive strategy? Why?

During class
Write

down the words in RED and what they mean Make a two column chart and list the 5 characteristics of a civilization, as well as an example from the powerpoint

Civilization
Main idea: prospering agricultural villages, food surpluses and new technology led to the rise of civilizations. Why it matters now: contemporary civilizations share the same characteristics typical of ancient civilizations

Setting the Stage

Agriculture

marked a dramatic change in how people lived together. They began dwelling in larger, more organized communities, such as farming villages and towns. Gradually from some of these permanent settlements, cities emerged, forming the backdrop of a much more complex way of lifecivilization.

Sumer

Villages grow in to cities

Over the centuries, people settled in stable communities based on agriculture Domesticated animals became more common The invention of new tools made farming easier As people gradually developed the technology to control the natural environment, they reaped larger harvests Growing populations led to increasingly complex social relations. The change from village life to city life was a gradual process that spanned several generations

Economic and Social Changes

Economic Changes Elaborate irrigation systems allowed for the cultivation of more land and the production of extra crops Food surpluses allowed some villagers to develop skills other than farming Important inventions that expanded trade: the wheel and the sail. Why? Social Changes A more complex and prosperous economy affected the social structure of village life Large irrigation systems required the cooperation and labor of many people Special groups of workers caused social classes to form, with varying degrees of wealth, power and influence

What is a Civilization?
A

complex culture with

Advanced Specialized

cities

Workers Complex Institutions Record Keeping Advanced Technology

Advance Cities

Cities were the birthplaces of the first civilizations Civilization comes from the Latin word for city A city is a center of trade for a larger area, and houses a large number of people. Farmers, merchants and traders brought goods to market in the cities The city dwellers also produced goods for exchange

Advanced Cities in Sumer

Uruk:

population of about 10,000 which doubled in 2 centuries Lagashpopulation of about 19,000 Ummapopulation of about 16,000

Specialized Workers

The growth of cities led to a demand for specialized workers Food surpluses allowed for specialization Specialization: the development of skills in a specific kind of work An abundant food supply allowed some people to become expert at jobs besides farming Artisans: skilled workers who make goods by hand

Specialized Workers in Sumer

Priests Metalworkers Scribes Weavers Merchants Government officials Soldiers Potters Teachers farmers

Complex Institutions

Large populations made government (a system of ruling) necessary In civilizations, leaders emerged to maintain order among people and to establish laws Government is an example of an institutiona long-lasting pattern of organization in a community Complex institutions, such as government, religion and the economy are another characteristic of civilization With the growth of cities, religion became a formal institution The temple became the hub of government and religious affairs , as well as the citys economic center.

Complex Institutions in Sumer

Formal

government with officials and laws Priests with both religious and political power Rigorous education system for training of scribes

Record Keeping

As government, religion and the economy became more complex and structured, people recognized the need to keep records Around 3000 BC, scribes (professional record keepers) developed a writing system called cuneiform (which means wedge shaped). Eventually, people started writing for more than just record keeping

Record Keeping in Sumer

Cuneiform

tabletsrecords of business transactions, historical events, customs and traditions

Advance Technology

New tools and techniques are always needed to solve the problems that emerge when large groups live together In early civilizations, farmers began to harness the powers of animals and nature Artisans relied on new technology to make their tasks easier Bronze age: when people began using bronze, rather than copper and stone to fashion tools and weapons. Began in Sumer around 3000 BC

Advanced Technology in Sumer

By around 3000 BC The wheel, the plow and the sailboat probably in daily use Bronze weapons and body armor that gave Sumerians a military advantage over their enemies.

Civilization in Ur
Ur,

one of the earliest cities in Sumer, stood on the banks of the Euphrates River in what is now Southern Iraq Some 30,000 people once lived in this ancient city Ur was once the site of a highly sophisticated civilization Leonard Woolleys archaeological dig revealed a lot about Urs past

What we know about Ur based on Woolleys finds:

Ur had an agricultural economy with irrigation Ur was a developed city Trade flourished in Ur, where people bartered (traded goods and services without money) The Ziggurat (pyramid shaped temple) was the center of city life There are recordings of religious rituals

The Ziggurat
Urs

tallest and most important building It is like a city within a citysurrounded by a heavy wall Massive, tiered structure shaped like a pyramid Stairs on the exterior The citys gods were worshipped here Housed storage areas for grains, fabrics, gemsofferings for the citys gods.

Wrapping it up
In

what ways does the Ziggurat of Ur reveal that Sumerians had developed an advanced civilization? Think about the skills required to build the monument, the various purposes it served, and its location.

Homework
Role

play a character from Ur who has a specialized skill such as an artisan, a trader or a scribe. Write a monologue explaining how you contribute to the economic welfare of the city.