Monday, August 27th

[5thKendra]

Mesopotamia-

• the birthplace of the Pythagorean theorem and the first gov't
• Means the land between two rivers
• between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers
• rivers were used for trade and commerce, irrigation, crops, minerals, and grazing animals
• Rivers also caused flooding which would destroy farms and cities.
• the Tigris was very fast and violent and would change course without notice

Culture

• they believed in many gods
• wrote on clay tablets,
• buried people with items
• 1st religion to be recorded
• believed the world was flat,
• believed water covered the entire earth
• monthly festivals several reasons

Geography

• located in the Fertile crescent
• centered between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers
• Present day- Iran, Jordan, Kuwait, Syria, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia
• Warm climate, water, fertile soil
• Lack of resources
  
  • few trees, little rain, had to trade for certain necessities

Cities and States

• first cites began around 4000 BC-3500 BC
• Babylon-Amorites named it their capital
  
  • known for its color and luxury
• Ashur-
  
  • Modern day Iraq
  • used as religious capital
• Nippur-
  
  • modern day south eastern Iraq
  • used a religious capital
• Nineveh
  
  • oldest Assyrian city
  • one of the most powerful cities in the middle east

Nile River Valley

Geography

• the Nile river is 4,160 miles long
  
• located in africa, flows through Egypt, and many other countries
  
• means River Valley in Greek
  

Importance

• Provides resources for almost all aspects of life
  
• known as the Chief of Transport
  
• people set up trading routes for, leopard skins, eggs, cattle, feathers
  

People

• Egyptians
  
• lived in 3 classes of society
  
• lived along both sides of the river
  
• had dark skin, dark hair, men wore skirts and robes, women wore skirts and dresses
  
• women wore make up and painted their fingernails
  

Religion

• Based on nature
  
  • Sun God-Re or RA
    
  • God of the Nile- Hapi
    
• believed in life after death, preserved people as mummies
  

40 million people live in the Nile Delta region today

• The Nile is still used for transportation and trade to this day
  

Cities and States

• 3 civilizations
  
  • Nubia-land of the bow
    
  • Kemet
    
  • Kush
    
  • Each had their own rituals and gods