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Mesopotamia and the Fertile Crescent (Chapter 3)
Section 1: Geography of the Fertile Crescent
Mesopotamia was located in between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. Mesopotamia means
between the rivers. It is modern day Iraq. It is also known as The Fertile Crescent.
The most important geographic feature in Mesopotamia were the rivers. Fertile land and the
nearby rivers helped crops grow well. However, unpredictable floods destroyed crops, homes
& people. Flooding left behind silt, a mixture of rich soil and tiny rocks. People learned to
control the water by using irrigation, a way of supplying water to an area of land. They used
canals and built up the banks of the river to hold back the water.
Irrigation and better tools, such as the plow and water wheel, led to a surplus of food. A
surplus of food was followed by a division of labor, when workers can specialize in one
particular job.
*Why was Mesopotamia a perfect place for the 1st civilization?
1. Location in the Fertile Crescent - large arc of fertile land in the Middle East
2. Tigris & Euphrates Rivers made farming possible
3. Cattle, pigs, goats & sheep were accessible
Section 2: The Rise of Sumer
The first group of people to build a permanent settlement in Mesopotamia was the Sumerians.
In time, another society developed along the Tigris and Euphrates. It was created by the
Akkadians. The Sumerians and Akkadians lived in peace for many years. But, in 2300BC,
Sargon broke that peace. He was the first ruler to have a permanent army. He used that army
to launch a series of wars. He defeated Sumer and many of his other neighbors. This created
the world’s first empire. Eventually, the Sumerians did regain power.
Religion shaped society and was very important to the Sumerians. They practiced polytheism,
the worship of many gods. The Sumerians believed everything in life depended on pleasing
the gods. Sumerians worshiped their many gods at a special temple called a ziggurat. It was in
the middle of town and was the center of Sumerian cities.
The Sumerian society was divided by rank of class. Kings were at the top. They were thought
to have been chosen by the gods to rule. Priests were just below kings. Below priests were
craftspeople, merchants and traders. Below traders, farmers and laborers made up the large
working class. Slaves were at the bottom of the social order.
UPPER CLASS
Kings (claimed to be chosen by gods to rule)
Nobles & Priests
MIDDLE CLASS
Craftspeople, Traders, Merchants
WORKING CLASS
Farmers & Laborers
*SLAVES were at the bottom
Development of Civilization:
Rivers flood, silt deposited, fertile land, agriculture develops, irrigation, the plow and water
wheel, food surplus, population growth, division of labor, civilization.
Civilizations have written language, laws and government, a social hierarchy, trade, religion,
and architecture.
Section 3: Sumerian Achievements
The Sumerians made one of the greatest cultural achievements in history. They developed
cuneiform, the world’s first writing system. They used sharp tools called styluses to make
wedge-shaped symbols on clay tablets. Cuneiform was first developed as a way to keep
business records.
The Sumerians also invented the wheel, carts and wagons, the plow, and a math system based
on the number 60.
Section 4: Later Peoples of the Fertile Crescent
Around 1800BC, a new power rose in Mesopotamia. They were the Babylonians, led by their
king, Hammurabi. Hammurabi was a brilliant war leader, but he is most well-known for his set
of 180 laws, Hammurabi’s Code. They were important because it was the first set of written
laws, each crime had a specific punishment, and many of his ideas are still used in laws today.
In another part of the Fertile Crescent was a land known as Phoenicia. They created a wealthy
trading society along the Mediterranean Sea. They traded cedar, silver, ivory, purple dye, and
slaves. The Phoenician’s most important accomplishment was the development of an
alphabet. It became widely spread because of the Phoenician’s extensive trade routes.
1.
2.
3.
4.
Label the map with the two rivers and trace the rivers in blue.
Outline the area of the Fertile Crescent in green.
Label the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea.
Label the two continents on this map.