1. The Sumerians
Civilizations first developed around BC in the river valleys of Mesopotamia, Egypt, India, and China
Mesopotamia, the earliest known civilization developed in what is now southern Iraq.
Located between the Tigris and Euphrates River.
The Fertile Crescent includes parts of the modern countries of Turkey, Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, Israel and Jordan.

2. The Sumerians
Historians believe that people first settled Mesopotamia around 7000 BC
They learned how to adjust to their environment. ( During the spring harvest, rains and melting snow form the northern mountains caused rivers to overflow and flooding occurred).
Floods were helpful. The flooded rivers deposited silt, which was good for farming.
Over time, the people learned how to make dames to control the seasonal floods. They learned how to irrigate their crops
Farmers began to grow surpluses.
People began to start new specializations; weaving cloth, making pottery, weapons.

3. Sumerians
By 3000 BC, several cities developed in Sumer, a region in southern Mesopotamia Sumer’s people were known as Sumerians Cities of Ur, Uruk and Eridu developed and became centers of civilizations.

4. Sumerians
The Sumerians cities were protected by mudflats and patches of desert.
Sumerians cities became independent.
The people of each city raised their own crops and made their own goods.
This is when city-states developed.
Scientists think that each Sumerian city-state was protected by a large city wall.

5. Sumerians
Often, the city-states went to war with one another over resources and political borders.
During time of peace, they traded with one another and formed alliances to protect common interest.

6. Sumerians
The Sumerians people worshipped many gods, a type of belief know as polytheism.
A city-state often included a large temple call a ziggurat.
Sumerians kings claimed they received their power to rule from the city’s god. The first kings were more likely war heroes.
Over time, their rule became hereditary.

7. Sumerians
People were divided into social classes. Kings, priests, warriors, and government officials were part of the upper class. Merchants, farmers, artisans, and fishermen were part of the middle class. Enslaved people were if the lowest class.

8. Sumerians Farmers were the largest group in the middle class
Trade was important part of Sumer’s economy
Sumerian merchants went to other lands to trade wheat, barley, and tools for timber, minerals, and metals.

9. Mesopotamia “Cradle of Civilization”
Writing was used call cuneiform that was composed of about 1200 characters
Only a few learned to read and write, usually the wealthy
After years of training, some students became scribes or official record keepers
Epic of Gilgamesh was an epic written about a hero
They were the first to use the wheel
They developed the sailboat
They invented the wooden plot
They were the first to make bronze/copper and tin
They used bronze to make tools, weapons, and jewelry.
Studied math and astronomy.