HST 197 Chapter Notes - Chapter 2: Ruling Class
Document Summary
Societies developed ways to keep order through experimentation and adaptation. Specifically refers to the fertile valleys between the tigris and euphrates. The rivers bring large volumes of freshwater to this region. Sumer: artificial irrigation led to increased food supplies, which turned to an increased human population. Semitic migrants: spoke in tongues of the semitic family of languages such as hebrew, They intermarried with sumerians and adapted their ways. Sumerian city-states: experienced internal and external pressures that prompted them to establish these city states. Needed to maintain order and ensure inhabitants cooperated on community projects. They also needed to prevent conflicts from arising and escalating into serious civic disorder. Sumerian kings: these early government were assemblies of prominent men who made decisions on behalf of the whole community. Individual rulers gradually usurped authority of the assemblies and established themselves as monarchs. Once they developed strong states, they ventured outside of their city states.
