1. The Rise of Sumerian City-States
Chapter 4:
The Rise of Sumerian City-States
Name:___________________
Color:_______
From caves to small Neolithic villages to complex Sumerians city-states, in this chapter you will learn how a series of problems faced by the people of ancient Mesopotamia were solved and how they helped to transform the Neolithic farming villages into complex Sumerian city-states.
What is this chapters essential question?____________________________________________________________________
4.1 Introduction (pg 33)
Mesopotamia is the Greek word that means: “_____________________________________”
Two rivers? ____________________ and ____________________
Cities first appeared in the southern part of this land called: __________________.
Why were the earliest cities in Sumer called city-states?
List 3 features of one of an early Mesopotamian city-state:
4.2 Mesopotamia: A Difficult Environment
Mesopotamia was not an easy place to live. (pg 34)
THERE WAS LITTLE RAIN!
List 2 problems Mesopotamians faced living on the plains.
1._____________________________________ _____________________________________
2._____________________________________ _____________________________________
The northern part was ____________ and received ____________.
The southern part was low ____________, or ___________land.
What is an irrigation system?
________________________________ _______________________________

2. Solution Problem 4.3 Food Shortages in the Hills (pg 35)
Farming began in the rolling _______________of the
_____________ _______________ in northern Mesopotamia.
Solution
Draw and label a picture showing the Mesopotamian solution to the food shortage
List 3 advantages of living in the Zagros foothills:
__________________________________
___________________________________
____________________________________
Problem
Draw and label a picture showing the problem that occurred around 5000 BCE
As a result, the farmers moved to the ______________ and ______________ River valley’s.
Explain why did farmers move here( hint: what were some advantages)??
This region became known as ________________.
BUT the lack of _____________caused a food ______________ in the Zagros foothills!!

3. 4.4 Uncontrolled Water Supply in the River Valley (pg 36)
Describe the seasonal weather changes in Sumer.
Solution
Draw and label a picture showing how Sumerians solved their problem with water.
List 2 reasons why this made farming so difficult.
1.__________________________________________________
2.__________________________________________________
Problem
Draw and label a picture showing the problem caused by an uncontrollable water supply
The Sumerians created irrigation systems to
provide water for their ___________. They built
________ _________, called levee’s, along the sides of the river to prevent flooding.
Explain other ways Sumerians learned to control the water supply?
Farmers either had too little water or they had too
much! To succeed in growing________, they needed a
way to __________ the ___________ so they could
have a reliable water ___________ all year round.

4. The irrigation system passed through many __________
4.5 Difficulties in Building and Maintaining a Complex Irrigation System (pg 37)
The irrigation system passed through many __________
as it carried water from the __________ to the __________. The ___________needed to be cleaned regularly as they became clogged with ________ (very fine mud). And ______ __________ could spoil the whole ___________!!!
Solution
Draw and label a picture showing how Sumerians kept their complex irrigation system working.
Problem
Draw and label a picture showing what could happen if an irrigation system was not cleared regularly.
List 3 ways farmers from different city-states worked together:
1.___________________________________________
2.___________________________________________
3.___________________________________________
Why did famers have to live and work close to one another?
What was the long term result of Sumerians working together?

5. Solution Problem 4.6 Attacks by Neighboring Communities (pg 38)
As cities grew, people fought over the right to
use __________ ____________ !
Solution
Draw and label a picture showing how Sumerians protected their cities.
Problem
Draw and label a picture showing why Sumerian cities fought with each other.
List two ways Sumerians tried to protect their cities from enemies:
1.__________________________________________________________________________________
2.__________________________________________________________________________________
Explain how the physical geography of Sumer left its cities unprotected.
The walled cities of Sumer were like _________________ ____________________!!!