1. Do Now Title: intro to Mesopotamia
Using what we know from Early Humans, what are areas where people will begin to settle. Describe a location that would meet all the needs of a settlement (4-5 sentences) 7L

2. Language of the Discipline
Civilization:
the condition that exists when people have developed effective ways of organizing a society and care about art, science, etc.
Tigris River:
The Eastern river in ancient Mesopotamia
Euphrates River:
The Western river in ancient Mesopotamia

3. Mesopotamia Video
We are now going to watch the Mesopotamia video. Watch carefully for the mention of the new vocabulary words:
civilization, Tigris and Euphrates Rivers and irrigation

4. MESOPOTAMIA
Means “the Land Between the rivers”

5. The Fertile Crescent
In Northern Mesopotamia, the land is fertile. There is seasonal rain.
In Southern Mesopotamia, the land is mostly flat and barren. There is very little rainfall. The area does have slight seasons. It can get quite cool at certain times of the year.
Many thousands of years ago, early settlers wandered into the land between two rivers. Natural vegetation and wildlife kept the people well fed. The rivers provided fresh drinking water.

6. The Tigris River: The Tigris was the eastern of the two rivers
It flows from a source deep in the Armenian mountains all the way to the Persian Gulf, about 1,200 miles.
Located in present day Iraq, Turkey and Syria

7. Euphrates River The Euphrates was the western of the two rivers
It flows from a source deep in the Armenian mountains all the way to the Persian Gulf, almost 1,800 miles.

8. The Fertile Crescent

9. Tigris and Euphrates Rivers
Both rivers were the lifeblood of Mesopotamian civilizations, giving the Sumerians water and a vehicle for their trade and defense.
Waters from the Tigris and Euphrates rivers helped Sumerian farmers grow enough crops to feed towns and cities

10. Reflection The soil was good for farming because of yearly flooding.
How would this help the development of a civilization and help the Sumerians to prosper?

11. Map of Mesopotamia Together we are going to create our first map!
You need to make sure to color and label everything.
Today we will do it together but from now on you will do it on your own!

12. Map of Mesopotamia Tigris River Euphrates River Fertile Crescent
Mediterranean Sea
Red Sea
Egypt

13. Do Now:
Living next to a river was perfect for farming but as the Sumerian civilization grew people were forced to live farther and farther from the water.
How do you think they were able to still grow crops?
Where did they get the water from?
7L Continued

14. Language of the Discipline
Irrigation:
To deliver water to the land for farming, using canals or ditches.

15. Irrigation
As we have seen before, the people of Mesopotamia adapted to their environment and developed systems to help them to survive:
Irrigation: Waterways that would bring the important water into fields and farm areas farther from the banks of the rivers
We Still Use Irrigation today!!

16. Why is Irrigation Important?
Because water was able to flow through these irrigation channels
Irrigation channels allowed farmers to have water in areas that were once a barren desert
As the civilization grew, the irrigations system expanded to allow water to areas farter from the rivers

17. Agriculture in Mesopotamia
Because the land was so fertile, people began to rely even more on farming.
Irrigation brought water to dry areas
Silt: rich minerals which helped to fertilize the soil, making it rich in nutrients.
Crops prospered and life became more predictable

18. Sumerian Farming Manual
You are going to create a Mesopotamia Farming Manual with 6 steps. You must describe the step and how to do it properly along with a diagram or picture of what it would look like.
I will show you how to cut the paper and you will complete the rest in class or for homework if you do not finish

19. Sumerian Farming Manual
Local officials decide when to let water flow onto crops
Farmers let animals graze in soil to trample and eat weeds.
Farmers break up the soil using hand tools
Spread seeds and plow
Plant seeds
Harvest the plants

20. Do Now
How do you think irrigation is used today? How is our farming different or similar to the Ancient Mesopotamians?

21. How irrigation is used today

22. Think about it
Reflection…Arizona is mostly a desert, yet it has a huge city, how do people survive and grow crops in the middle of a desert?

23. Finish Farming Manual All pages need to be colored
It must be finished today!!

24. EXIT SLIP

25. QUESTION 1
What are the names of the two rivers that designed the borders for Mesopotamia?
Tigris and Nile
Tigris and Euphrates
Nile River and the Red Sea
Euphrates River and the Nile

26. QUESTION 2
In your own words, describe why the rivers were important in the success of Mesopotamia?
In other words, how did the two rivers help Mesopotamia grow and thrive?

27. QUESTION 3 Which was NOT a step in the farming process?
Farmers let animals graze in soil to trample and eat weeds.
Farmers break up the soil using hand tools
Hire others to help on large farms
Spread seeds and plow

28. QUESTION 4 Which was NOT benefit of irrigation
Water flowing in the irrigation was cleaner
Water was able to flow more easily
It allowed farmers to have water in areas that were once a barren desert
The irrigations system expanded to allow water to areas farter from the rivers

29. QUESTION 5 The Fertile Crescent got its name because…
It rained so often the land was always lush and green
Snow melting from the mountains watered the plants
The irrigation system allowed farmers to water their plants
The Tigris and Euphrates rivers often over-flowed making it very green but also swampy