1. Mesopotamia ©Copyright 2006 Mrs. Kelly Stevens & Mrs. Paulette Ingram

2. Fertile Crescent Area of land located in Modern day Turkey, Iraq, and NE Syria Melting snow picks up tons of topsoil from the mountains and rushes it downstream Silt – the layer of rich deposited topsoil

3. Mesopotamia In Greek it means “land between two rivers” (Tigris & Euphrates Rivers)

4. Mesopotamia Physical Geography Dry climate with unpredictable rain & flooding Area of large dry mud flats, stagnant pools, and reed swamps NO building materials or wood Area offered soil & water

5. Sumer (3500-1759 BCE) People who lived there were called Sumerians Settled along the Euphrates River Farming Community Worshipped many gods (polytheism)

6. Ziggurat Giant brick building in the center of the city to honor the main God/Goddess of the city Temple was encircled with staircases or ramps Hebrew for “Holy Mountain”

7. Housing in Sumer 2 Story Homes Priests, Merchants 1 Story Homes Shopkeepers, Craftsman Small Homes Farmers & Fisherman Ziggurat Multiple Layers WALL Farmland

8. Social Classes Workers of the community who were slightly protected by the laws Had the most rights and privileges and protected the most by the laws Had the least amount of rights and protection from the laws

9. Sumer Government Priest Religious & Economic Warriors became Kings Political and Military

10. Sumerian Accomplishments… Writing Invented Cuneiform Only a select few learned to read & write Kept records This marked the beginning of human history Arithmetic Units of 10 and 60 Hour, minute, and second Degrees of a circle 360 Dozen Units of measure and weight Geometry in building Twelve month calendar Based on lunar cycle Fixed religious festivals Fixed agricultural activities

11. Sumerian Accomplishments… Religion Polytheism (belief in many Gods/Goddesses) Myths – stories that told about the Gods/Goddesses Agriculture Plow Wheeled cart Bronze tools