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The Sumerians formed one of the first human civilizations known in history. They settled in the area where the Tigris and Euphrates rivers reach the Persian Gulf. They administered themselves through local assemblies, where they made communal decisions on important matters.
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Uruk was founded near Eridu and was considered the first place in Mesopotamia to fit the definition of a city. It was in Uruk that the first known plow was founded. The city grew within the millennium to consist of nearly 50,000-80,000 inhabitants. picture: https://historiaparao6ano.files.wordpress.com/2011/09/uruk-gilgamesh.jpg
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Cuneiform is the system of writing developed first by the Sumerians as a way to keep track of their accounting and distribution of grain, animals, ceramics, textiles, and imported raw materials. A scribe would draw a picture of the object or sound on a wet clay tablet. The development of writing not only helped with record keeping and communication, but allowed for history to start to be recorded. picture: http://www.crystalinks.com/sumerwriting.html
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The first know potter's wheel was found. This made it possible for a ceramic pot to be made perfectly round. picture: https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/aa/71/be/aa71beef5c68dcee16f9fb7f60d74bf1.jpg?noindex=1
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The first recorded war in the world was between the kingdoms of Sumer and Elam, with Sumer being victorious and "carried away as spoil the weapons of Elam." picture: https://sumer2sargon.files.wordpress.com/2015/09/600969524.jpg?w=676&h=502
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Gilgamesh was the ruler of Uruk for 126 years (according to Sumerian's King List). He is said to have built the great city walls that are about 6 miles long. He is known best as the hero of the world's earliest known surviving work of literature, the Epic of Gilgamesh. picture: https://michaelsherlockauthor.files.wordpress.com/2015/12/gilgameshd.png?w=1030&h=430&crop=1
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The Akkadian's language replaces the Sumerian's as the primary spoken language in Mesopotamia. picture: http://www.omniglot.com/images/writing/akkadian.gif
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Akkadia was the first royal dynasty to unify the competing cities of Mesopotamia. There were about 2 million inhabitants. Sargon was the first major king and came to be known as one of the greatest men who have ever lived Akkadia was was the first to efficiently and extensively use bureaucracy and administration on a large scale. It set the standard for future kingdoms and their rulers. picture: https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/9d/a9/5b/9da95bccf71fec32d359ec89c72086f2.jpg
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The Gutian Dynasty came to power after invading and conquering the Akkadian Empire. The Guti were considered to be a barbaric people and they ushered in a "Dark Age Era" in Mesopotamia. Results of this era was widespread famine, starvation, and population contraction. This "Dark Age" lasted until about 1992 BC.
picture: http://www.worldology.com/Iraq/ancient_mesopotamia.htm -
The Assyrians rose to power the first time after the fall of the Akkadian Empire. Their strongest leader was King Shamshi-Adad who expanded his control to much of the north and allowed the Assyrians to grow wealthy. It was after his death that the Assyrians became weak and fell to the Babylonian Empire. picture: http://i1-news.softpedia-static.com/images/news2/Assyrians-the-Lords-of-the-Massacres-3.JPG
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Babylonia was another major kingdom of Mesopotamia who's best-known king was Hammurabi. Hammurabi ruled his society based on rule of law. This can be reflected in his Code of Hammurabi, which was the entire code of Babylonian law that he had engraved on a 7-foot slab of basalt. His laws were harsh compared to today's standards. picture: https://couriermedia.s3.amazonaws.com/images/article_images/01585/facebook_images/display_dbd465aa-ecb3-4b2d-9b8c-723db513439c.jpg
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The Babylonian culture was ended when Babylon fell to Cyrus II (Cyrus the Great) of Persia. The bulk of Mesopotamia then became part of the Persian Empire. He lets the Jewish people return to Israel. picture: https://learnodo-newtonic.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Artistic-portrait-of-Cyrus-the-Great.jpg
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Darius I, also known as Darius the Great, becomes the King of Persia during its peak. He divided up his land into provinces that were ruled by "satraps." picture: https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GOz8JT6s_ZU/V4aFgOG7JgI/AAAAAAAAZao/TMRW8MK-63AM7QBWvYEegKENF6IXwYXwACLcB/s1600/Darius-1.jpg
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Alexander the Great invades and takes control of the Persian Empire. This marks an end to Mesopotamia's seat as a world power. picture: https://storybookstorage.s3.amazonaws.com/items/images/000/304/041/original/20160315-9-13d5sjc.jpg?1458028287
