The Geography & Early Development of Mesopotamia ANSWERS: The Euphrates River About 350-400 miles The Persian Gulf Answers will vary. Waterways like these provided the people with hydration; nourishment (fish and other edibles that lived in the water; recreation; transportation; hygiene/bathing/cleansing; etc. DO NOW: On a separate sheet of paper, answer the “Step Into The Place” questions on pg. 74 of your Discovering Our Past: A History of the World textbook.

THE GEOGRAPHY & DEVELOPMENT OF MESOPOTAMIA Mesopotamia is located in the eastern part of the larger Fertile Crescent. This curving strip of good farmland extends from the Mediterranean Sea to the Persian Gulf. (see the map on pgs. 74-75 or the map on pg. 78 of your textbook). The first civilizations in Mesopotamia began on the plain between the Tigris River and the Euphrates River. People began building farming villages along the plain around 4,000 B.C. The rivers flooded their banks every spring, due to seasonal rain and melting snow from the northern mountains. The farmers in Mesopotamia learned ways to “control” the rivers and their seasonal floods. built dams dug canals that let the water flow from the rivers to their fields developed methods of irrigation Though seasonal flooding could be destructive, it could also be beneficial. The floodwaters carried silt, fine particles of fertile soil, that were very useful for farming.

Marduk Creates The World From The Spoils of Battle ANSWERS: The Euphrates River About 350-400 miles The Persian Gulf Answers will vary. Waterways like these provided the people with hydration; nourishment (fish and other edibles that lived in the water; recreation; transportation; hygiene/bathing/cleansing; etc. Listen to the Mesopotamian myth, “Marduk Creates The World From The Spoils of Battle.” Then, answer/discuss the following questions: How did the Mesopotamians think that the world was created? According to the Mesopotamians, what were the Tigris River and the Euphrates River? What can we learn from studying myths like this one?

FLY SWATTER GAME TIAMAT SUMERIANS SILT CUNEIFORM CITY-STATE TIGRIS RIVER FERTILE CRESCENT MESOPOTAMIA IRRIGATION ANSWERS: The Euphrates River About 350-400 miles The Persian Gulf Answers will vary. Waterways like these provided the people with hydration; nourishment (fish and other edibles that lived in the water; recreation; transportation; hygiene/bathing/cleansing; etc. EUPHRATES RIVER POLYTHEISM CLAY TABLETS MARDUK