1. CH 5 History of the Fertile Crescent
B.C.
7.1.1 Identify and compare the rise of early agricultural river valley civilization in Africa and Asia.
Trace steps in the development of written language, including the evolution of Sumerian cuneiform, Egyptian hieroglyphics, and Chinese calligraphy.
Identify and explain the importance of early cultural hearths in the Nile River Valley. Mesopotamia, the Indus River Valley, and the Huang River Valley.

2. What picture/thoughts comes to your mind when you hear the world Fertile Crescent?

3. Section 1: Geography of the Fertile Crescent
Fertile Crescent – a large arc of rich, or fertile farmland.
Mesopotamia- “means between two rivers”
What two land features give Mesopotamia its name?
Tigris and Euphrates River
Silt- a mixture of rich soil and tiny rocks.
It made it ideal for farming in Mesopotamia.
Why is farming important?

4. Farming and Cities
12,000 to 10,000 BC Hunters and gatherers began to settle in the Fertile Crescent
By 7000 BC Farming Settlements were being established in Mesopotamia.

5. Irrigation- a way of supplying water to an area of land.
WATER MATTERS
H20 Mesopotamia Irrigation
Irrigation- a way of supplying water to an area of land.
Canals- human made waterways

6. What would you devote your time to if you did not have to work?
Due to irrigation the people of Mesopotamia were able to grow more food.
FOOD SURPLUS- meaning more than enough needed.
Food surplus allowed some people to stop farming and devote their time to other jobs.
DIVISION OF LABOR- is a type of arrangement in which each work specializes in a particular task or job.
What would you devote your time to if you did not have to work?

7. What was developed due to the better farming practices, food surpluses and division of labor?
THE CITY

8. The Rise of Ancient Civilization
Farmland
Improved Irrigation
Food Surplus
Division of Labor
Civilization
*once needs are met you can focus on higher levels of development

9. Section 2 The Rise of Sumer

10. The Sumerians created the world’s first advanced society.
Religion played a major role in Sumerian society.
The Sumerians developed the first civilization in Mesopotamia.
3000 BC Sumer 1st City-State

11. City-State of Sumer
city-state – a central city and all the country side around it.
Sumer had 10,000 residents and grew to 100,000 by 2000 BC.
Empire- land with different territories and people under a single ruler.
City of Ur

12. Sargon 2334 – 2279 BC
Who was he?
A man who rebelled and used a permanent army to defeat the city states of Sumer
Who’d did he rule?
The Akkadians
How did he affect the region?
He held the Empire together for over 50 years under one Empire with a strong army.

13. religion (Sumerian culture)- was the basis for all Sumerian society
Priests- people who performed religious ceremonies
Polytheism- belief and worship of more than one god
Sumerian Religion

14. What does Polytheism mean?
Many gods

15. Social Hierarchy The division of society by rank or class 1. Royalty
2. Priest
3. Skilled Craftspeople, Merchants, and Traders
4.Farmers and Laborers
5. Slaves

16. Men
Held political power
Educated
Warriors

17. Women Could be educated if royal or part of the upper class Priestess
Took care of the home and children

18. Enheduanna Daughter of Sargon High Priestess of the Moon god
First known female write in history
Wrote verses to the gods