Rivers in Mesopotamia like the Tigris and Euphrates supported early civilizations through providing fertile soil and aiding trade and travel. The flooding of the rivers was both beneficial, leaving rich soil, and problematic, being unpredictable. Farmers learned to control the flooding through dams and irrigation channels. Key achievements of the Mesopotamians included inventing the wheel, developing the cuneiform writing system, plow, and advances in math including a number system and calendar.

1. GEOGRAPHY

2. First civilizations arose in
river valleys
Cities develop and become
the center of the civilizations
Rivers made for
good farming
conditions
Rivers made travel
and trade easier

4. • What two rivers was
Mesopotamia between?
Tigris and Euphrates
It was called “the land between two rivers” and
was in the eastern part of the Fertile Crescent
• What were the pros and cons of the rivers flooding?
• How did the farmers learn how to control the flooding?
CON: frequent and
unpredictable; it could flood
one year, but not the next year
PRO: left behind rich
soil for farming
Built dams and channels to control the river;
to irrigate (water the crops) their field

5. Why were the Sumerian cities isolated from each other?
What types of natural resources did Mesopotamia have?
By geography (mudflats and patches of scorching
desert)
Mesopotamia had very little natural resources.
Important resources like gold, copper, tin, and
wood were rare.

6. Economics

7. What occupation did most Sumerians do?
What are artisans?
Skilled workers who made metal products,
clothing or pottery.
They were farmers.

8. What other groups of workers were part of Sumer?
What did they trade for?
Merchants and traders; they used the rivers to
trade the only real resources that had, a
surplus of food and innovative tools.
In return they would get the natural resources
Mesopotamia lacked, like copper, tin, and
timber.

9. Achievements

10. Mesopotamians invented and
improved the design of the wheel.

11. Cuneiform was a wedge shaped language
developed by the Sumerians in Mesopotamia.
- Cuneiform was mainly used for business and
record keeping
Children (of rich
families) would
be trained to
become Scribes.
Scribes were
individuals
skilled in reading
and writing.

12. The Plow
The Mesopotamians also invented
the plow. This tool was used to turn
up the soil (tilling), so that farming
could be made easier! Notice the
use of animals, got to love
domestication!

13. Great at Math?
1. Began using a simple geometry (math for
shapes, and reasoning). Very useful for
building Ziggurats and irrigation systems.
2. Created a number system based on 60.
(We use a base ten system)
3. Designed a 12 month calendar based on
the movements of the moon.
Mathematical Developments: