1. Bell Ringer
Based on the map you drew, why do you think that area of the Middle East was known as the, “Fertile Crescent”? What physical features support your answer?

2. Land Between Two Rivers
Chapter 2, Section 1

3. Graphic Organizer Geographic Setting The First Cities
Sumerian Religion

4. Geographic Setting Mesopotamia
Got it’s name from it’s location – Greek word meaning, “between the rivers”
Between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers
Location of Sumer (one of the most prosperous places in the Ancient World)
Part of the Fertile Crescent – a region in Southeast Asia; site of the first civilizations.

5. Geographic Setting Tigris and Euphrates
Source of Life – melting snow picked up topsoil as it rushed down the mountains and flooded the land leaving this fertile topsoil on the plains below. It also supplied fish, clay for building, and reeds used for making boats.
Source of Death – Floods could be unpredictable, sweeping away people, animals, crops and houses.

6. The First Cities
Even though cities in Mesopotamia shared a common culture and language, they did not unite under a single ruler
City-state: a city that is also a separate, independent state.
Each city had it’s own special god or goddess, it’s own government, and it’s own king.

7. Sumerian Religion
The first known schools were set up in the land of Sumer over 4,000 years ago
They taught boys (and maybe a few girls) the new invention of writing
Graduates became scribes: professional writers
Scribes were important because they kept records for the kings and priests.
Sumerian = the oldest known written language

8. Sumerian Religion
Ziggurat: the site of the temple to the main god or goddess of the city.
Pyramids made of terraces, had a shrine at the top.
Sumerians believed that gods descended to Earth using the Ziggurat
Polytheism: a belief in many gods.
Myths: stories about gods that explain people’s beliefs
The Fall of Sumer
Wealth became its downfall, city-states fought over land and river water
King Sargon of Akkadia united the city-states and improved Sumer’s government and military for 100 years until it dissolved.