Geography of the Fertile Crescent

2. Geography of the Fertile Crescent 6.2.1 6.2.2 • The Big Idea • The valleys of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers were the site of the world’s first civilizations. • Main Ideas • The rivers of Southwest Asia supported the growth of civilizations. • New farming techniques led to the growth of cities.

3. The Fertile Crescent is a region of the Middle East that stretches in a large, crescent-shaped curve from the Persian Gulf to the Mediterranean Sea. Main Idea 1: The rivers of Southwest Asia supported the growth of civilizations.

4. The Fertile Crescent includes Mesopotamia, a wide, flat plain in present-day Iraq. Mesopotamia means “between the rivers” in Greek. The world’s first civilization began to form here. It was called Sumer Land Between Two Rivers

5. The Fertile Crescents soil is rich and fertile. It allows Sumerian farmers to grow many grains and vegetables. Raised cattle, sheep, and goats. The Tigris and Euphrates Rivers begin in the mountains of southeastern Turkey and flow south through present-day Iraq. The Rivers meet in southern Iraq and continue to empty into the Persian Gulf. Annual floods on the Tigris and Euphrates rivers brought silt that made the land ideal for farming. Silt is a mixture of rich soil and tiny rocks. Agriculture in Mesopotamia

6. While the floods bring a fresh layer of moist, fertile soil that is perfect for growing crops, it also causes some challenges. The heavy floods could wash away crops and entire villages.

7. Sumerian farmers used irrigation and canals as a way to control river flow. Irrigation is the supplying of water to crops. Increased amounts of food led to surpluses, which meant that fewer people needed to farm. As a result, new occupations developed. Main Idea 2:New farming techniques led to the growth of cities.

8. Controlling Water The water levels of the Tigris and Euphrates would rise or fall, depending on the amount of rainfall. Irrigation and canals helped solve flooding and drought problems. Irrigation A way of supplying water to an area of land Canals Human-made waterways Farmers also built up the banks of the rivers to hold back the floodwaters.

9. The 1st Mesopotamian city was Uruk with a population of more than 40,000 people. Created basic political units called city-states City-states are independent states that includes a city and its surrounding territory. Each city state had its own government and laws, and each had its own god. Had strong armies Built walled cities for protection Main Idea 1:The Sumerians created the world’s first advanced society.

10. Each city-state was also a center of trade. Most trade was done by barter. Barter is a trading system in which people exchange goods directly without using money. Most trading in Sumer was through the use of rivers and major canals. The Sumerians developed a social order with three classes. The Upper Class – ruler, top officials, powerful priests, wealthy merchants, and owners of large plots of land. Middle Class – farmers and skilled workers Lower Class - slaves Trade & Social Classes

11. Sumerian polytheism was the basis for all Sumerian society. Polytheism is the worship of many gods. Gods had enormous powers. Priests had great statues built in Sumer. Priests were people who performed religious ceremonies. Believed only priests could talk with the gods. In large Sumerian cities temples were pyramid-shaped brick towers known as ziggurats. Religion played a major role in Sumerian society.

12. The cuneiform system involved the use of sharp tools called styluses. It uses triangular shaped symbols to stand for ideas or things. The Sumerians first used cuneiform to keep business records. The Sumerians also used their writing skills to write books about history, poems, and math. The Sumerians invented the world’s first writing system.

13. Sumerian Government • The first leaders of Sumerian city-states were priests but in times of war someone was appointed to lead the city-state into battle. • After the war was over, the leader usually gave up power back to the priest. • However, as time went on, many leaders didn’t give up control and began to lead the city-states. This was the birth of kings.

14. Development of the wheel Used for carts and wagons Potter’s wheel The plow increased farm production. Sewers under city streets Math and science Number system based on 60 Names of animals, plants, and minerals Used medicines for healing and catalogued medical knowledge Birth of bronze – mix copper and tin. It was used to make tools and weapons and was better than copper because it was harder. Advances and inventions changed Sumerian lives.