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Mesopotamia City-States Geography of the Fertile Crescent Geography • Arc of land that provided good farming • Located in SW Asia • Mesopotamia “land between rivers” in the Persian gulf and Med. Sea • Rivers: Tigris and Euphrates • Every year the rivers flooded the land, and then receded leaving a thick mud called silt. • Soil was rich for farming and grew large quantities of wheat and barley. • Villages grew Environmental Challenges • Sumerians- 1st to settle in Mesopotamia • 3 challenges 1. Unpredictable flooding/drought 2. No natural barriers for protection 3. Limited natural resources Solving Problems • Dug irrigation ditches • Built city walls with mud bricks • Traded goods for more raw materials • These projects led to an organized gov’t in Sumeria City- States: a city and surrounding country-side with its own gov’t • Each city-state acted like its own mini country • All city-states shared in the Sumerian culture Priests and rulers share control • Governments ruled by Priests • In time of war-a tough fighter would command the army. • A commanders power ended after the war • Over time…priests gave commanders permanent control and become full time leaders • Dynasty: series of rulers from 1 family Sumerian Culture • Polytheism: belief in many gods • Gods were immortal and all powerful • People worked hard to earn protection Life • Kings landlords __________________________________ • Wealthy Merchants __________________________________ • Farmers, Artisans ___________________________________ • Slaves Science and Technology • Used arithmetic and geometry • Arches, ramps, wheel, sailboats • Created a writing systemcuneiform
