1. The Fertile Crescent known as Mesopotamia

2. Land Between Two Rivers
Sumer was located in a region called Mesopotamia
This region had fertile soil and life giving rivers which drew traders and farmers
The Tigris and Euphrates rivers were the source of life bringing tons of topsoil from the mountains to the land
Farmers grew crops, the rivers supplied fish, tall reeds were used for boat building and clay for building shelter

4. The First Cities
By 3500 B.C. Mesopotamia had many growing cities in the region of Sumer
These cities grew along the Tigris and Euphrates rivers far apart from each other
It made it difficult for these cities to unite under one government
Each city developed into a city-state having its own government and culture
Sumerian city-states fought with each other over land and water and fell out of power

5. Sumerian Religion The Sumerian temple was called the ziggurat
Sumerians believed that the gods would come to Earth using the stairs as a ladder
Polytheism was the belief in many gods
There were many myths or stories that explain Sumerian beliefs
People would give gifts to stay in good favor with the gods