Download chp2sec1_mesopotamia

Bell Ringer
•Based on the map you drew, why do you
think that area of the Middle East was
known as the, “Fertile Crescent”? What
physical features support your answer?
Land Between Two Rivers
Chapter 2, Section 1
Graphic Organizer
Geographic
Setting
The First
Cities
Sumerian
Religion
Geographic Setting
• Mesopotamia
• Got it’s name from it’s
location – Greek word
meaning, “between the
rivers”
• Between the Tigris and
Euphrates Rivers
• Location of Sumer (one of
the most prosperous places
in the Ancient World)
Part of the Fertile Crescent – a
region in Southeast Asia; site
of the first civilizations.
Geographic Setting
• Tigris and Euphrates
• Source of Life – melting snow picked up topsoil as it rushed down the
mountains and flooded the land leaving this fertile topsoil on the plains
below. It also supplied fish, clay for building, and reeds used for making boats.
• Source of Death – Floods could be unpredictable, sweeping away people,
animals, crops and houses.
The First Cities
• Even though cities in Mesopotamia shared a common culture and
language, they did not unite under a single ruler
• City-state: a city that is also a separate, independent state.
• Each city had it’s own special god or goddess, it’s own government, and it’s
own king.
Sumerian Religion
• The first known schools were set up in the
land of Sumer over 4,000 years ago
• They taught boys (and maybe a few girls) the
new invention of writing
• Graduates became scribes: professional
writers
• Scribes were important because they kept
records for the kings and priests.
• Sumerian = the oldest known written
language
Sumerian Religion
• Ziggurat: the site of the temple to the main god or goddess of the
city.
• Pyramids made of terraces, had a shrine at the top.
• Sumerians believed that gods descended to Earth using the Ziggurat
• Polytheism: a belief in many gods.
• Myths: stories about gods that explain people’s beliefs
• The Fall of Sumer
• Wealth became its downfall, city-states fought over land and river water
• King Sargon of Akkadia united the city-states and improved Sumer’s
government and military for 100 years until it dissolved.