Chapter 2Geography of the Fertile Crescent

Tigris and Euphrates Rivers

These 1)rivers have several smaller rivers which feed into the system.

The area is known as 2)Mesopotamia.

As part of the larger 3)Fertile Crescent, it saw the earliest 4)urban civilization.

It is often called the “5)Cradle of Civilization".

Irrigation in MesopotamiaThe 6)irrigation

systems of Mesopotamia were different from ones in modern day

They had some major components: ◦ 7)Canals◦ 8)Gated ditches◦ 9)Levees◦ 10)Gates

Irrigation in MesopotamiaThis invention had

two main purposes – ◦ To 11)protect

Mesopotamia from the threat of 12)flooding

◦ Provide 13)water into areas that were not close to the rivers 14)edge.

Benefits of Irrigation(15)Surplus

(having more than you need) of food

Division of Labor provided for:◦ (16)Quicker work◦ (17)Better work◦ (18)Specialized

Work◦ (19)Structure and

Rules

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SumerThe word means

“20)land of the civilized lords" or “21)native land"

Located in the region of southern 22)Mesopotamia(modern Iraq)

It was first settled between 23)4500 and 4000 BC

They drained the marshes for 24)agriculture

SumerDeveloped

25)trade Established

industries including: ◦ 26)Weaving◦ 27)Leatherwork◦ 28)Metalwork◦ 29)Masonry◦ 30)Pottery

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Growth of the City StateThe Sumer

people were 31)farmers

Around 32)2000 BC people moved into 33)cities.

Combining the rural and 34)urban centers we see the rise of 35)city states.

GilgameshThe fifth king of

(36)UrukAccording to the

Sumerian king list he reigned for (37)126 years

The (38)Epic of Gilgamesh is the oldest written story on Earth.

It was originally written on 12 (39)clay tablets

GilgameshIt is about the

(40)adventures of the historical King of (41)Uruk

These stories were the first written (42)mythology.

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Sumerian ReligionsThey practiced

43)polytheism (many gods)

They worshipped a god named 44)An as their primary god.

The 45)gods each had associations with different 46)cities

Their religious 47)importance often changed according to how power the 48)cities were.

Sumerian ReligionsThe 49)gods were

said to have created human beings from 50)clay.

They often expressed their 51)anger and frustration through 52)earthquakes and storms.

The 53)religion seemed to imply that humanity was at the 54)mercy of the gods.

Ziggurats The 55)ziggurats were

not places for public worship or 56)ceremonies.

They were believed to be 57)dwelling places for the gods.

Only 58)priests were permitted inside.

It was their 59)responsibility to care for the gods and attend to their 60)needs

As a result the 61)priests were very powerful members of 62)Sumerian society.

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