1. The Geographic Setting Mesopotamia was a region between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers in Southwest Asia. Snowmelt from the mountains caused floods along the rivers in spring, bringing rich topsoil that benefited farms, but often bringing great destruction as well. 1 of 3 The Fertile Crescent Section 1: Land Between Two Rivers MapMaster: Mesopotamia The First Cities Some of the earliest known cities grew in the region of Sumer, at the southern ends of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. Each Sumerian city was a separate state.

2. 2 of 3 The Fertile Crescent Section 1: Land Between Two Rivers Sumerian Religion Sumerian cities were crowned by ziggurats, or temples to the main god or goddess of the city. Sumerians were polytheistic. They made food offerings to their gods. Although they were blessed with great wealth, the riches brought warfare between the city-states and also brought foreign conquerors. Section Reading Support Transparency

3. The Fertile Crescent: Section 1 Section Reading Support Transparency 3 of 3