The Fertile Crescent known as Mesopotamia

Land Between Two Rivers Sumer was located in a region called Mesopotamia This region had fertile soil and life giving rivers which drew traders and farmers The Tigris and Euphrates rivers were the source of life bringing tons of topsoil from the mountains to the land Farmers grew crops, the rivers supplied fish, tall reeds were used for boat building and clay for building shelter

The First Cities By 3500 B.C. Mesopotamia had many growing cities in the region of Sumer These cities grew along the Tigris and Euphrates rivers far apart from each other It made it difficult for these cities to unite under one government Each city developed into a city-state having its own government and culture Sumerian city-states fought with each other over land and water and fell out of power

Sumerian Religion The Sumerian temple was called the ziggurat Sumerians believed that the gods would come to Earth using the stairs as a ladder Polytheism was the belief in many gods There were many myths or stories that explain Sumerian beliefs People would give gifts to stay in good favor with the gods