1. Mesopotamia

2. The Land Between Two Rivers Mesopotamia (between the rivers) is a region in SW Asia Tigris and Euphrates Rivers Rich soil Drew people in to become farmers and city builders Sumer was a region inside of Mesopotamia Schools System of writing (cuneiform) Scribes

3. Rivers of Life and Death Tigris and Euphrates Rivers were the source of life for all people in Mesopotamia Positives Annual floods provided rich fertile soil for crops Supplied fish, clay, transportation Negatives Floods did not happen at the same time each year Without warning, crops, homes, animals, and people could be swept away Tigris River

4. The First Cities As farming succeeded in Mesopotamia, communities began to rise due to surplus of food. Earliest cities rose in Sumer along the rivers by around 3500 BC City-States shared a common culture and language, but had their own rulers, gods, and army (a city, but also an independent state) Public squares were popular places where merchants would sell good and various forms of entertainment would occur.

5. Sumerian Religion Polytheistic- the belief in many gods Ziggurats were temples to the main god or goddess of the city. It was believed that the temple provided the gods a stairway down to earth.

6. The Fall of Sumer Sumerian city-states fought each other over land and use of the rivers Around 2300 BC, Sumer was conquered by neighboring Akkad. King Sargon of Akkad, united all Sumerian city-states for 100 years Eventually independent city-states formed again. After 2000 BC, Sumer was no longer a major power.