The document describes the early civilization of Mesopotamia that developed between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers around 4000 BC. Key factors in the rise of civilization included the establishment of advanced cities that supported specialized workers through surplus agricultural production, leading to complex institutions for governance, religion, and economic management which relied on early forms of record keeping like cuneiform writing. Improved irrigation techniques also supported agriculture and population growth in urban centers.

1. MESOPOTAMIA THE FERTILE CRESCENT

2. How Does a Civilization Develop? 1) Advanced Cities - center of trade for a larger area than just itself 2) Specialized Workers food surplus allowed for specialization artisans- skilled workers who make goods by hand. 3) Complex Institutions i.e. government, religion, and the economy religious temples served as the government, religious, and economic center (problems with something like this in America?) 4) Record Keeping i.e. collecting taxes, passage of laws, when religious services occur Sumerian scribes came up with cuneiform (wedge-shaped) beginning of written history. 5) Improved Technology

3. THE FERTILE CRESCENT BY ABOUT 4000 B.C PEOPLE BEGAN TO SETTLE IN A REGION CALLED THE FERTILE CRESENT TWO RIVERS FORMED A FERTILE AREA ALSO CALLED MESOPOTAMIA MESOPOTAMIA MEANS “THE LAND BETWEEN TWO RIVERS” THE 2 RIVERS ARE THE TIGRIS AND EUPHRATES THE MODERN COUNTRY OF IRAQ IS LOCATED IN THIS REGION

4. MSEOPOTAMIA FROM SPACE

5. The Ancient Fertile Crescent Area The Middle East: “The Cradle of Civilization”

7. TWO RIVERS THE TIGRIS RIVER IS TO THE NORTH THE EUPHRATES RIVER IS TO THE SOUTH THE RIVER’S SOURCE IS IN THE TAURUS MTS. THE RIVERS EMPTY INTO THE PERSIAN GULF THEY FLOW TO THE SOUTHEAST

8. FLOODS THE TIGRIS AND EUPHRATES RIVERS WOULD FLOOD EVERY YEAR. THE FLOODWATERS LEFT BEHIND SOIL FOR THE FARMERS TO PLANT CROPS IN. THIS SOIL IS CALLED SILT FLOODS COULD ALSO WASH AWAY CROPS AND EVEN WHOLE VILLAGES !

9. IRRIGATION IRRIGATION WAS USED TO CONTROL THE FLOW OF WATER FOR FARMING . FARMERS NEEDED TO CONTROL THE FLOODING RIVERS THEY ALSO NEEDED TO SUPPLY THEIR CROPS WITH WATER DURING THE DRY GROWING SEASON IRRIGATION METHODS USED WERE: DIKES, CANALS, GATES, AND ARTIFICIAL LAKES

10. IRRGATION CANALS

11. PLOW

13. AGRICULTURE THE MOST IMPORTANT CROPS WERE WHEAT AND BARLEY OTHER CROPS INCLUDED: BEANS, ONIONS, LETTUCE , DATE PALMS , AND APPLES.

14. CROPS WERE PLANTED ALONG CANAL BANKS ANIMALS RAISED OR DOMESTICATED INCLUDED SHEEP , CATTLE , AND GOATS CATTLE WERE USED FOR MILK , LEATHER , AND MEAT. SPRING WAS THE HARVEST TIME

15. THE FIRST CITIES FARMERS WERE SOON ABLE TO PRODUCE A SURPLUS OF FOOD THIS ALLOWED FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF CITIES A GOVERNMENT IS AN ORGANIZED SYSTEM WHERE A GROUP MAKES LAWS AND DECISIONS MOST CITIES FIRST DEVELOPED IN THE REGION OF SUMER EACH CITY STATE WAS SELF-GOVERNING, SO IT WAS CALLED A CITY-STATE

16. SUMER THE CITY-STATES IN SUMER HAD A MONARCHY STYLE OF GOVERNMENT IN A MONARCHY, ONE PERSON HAS THE POWER EACH CITY ALSO HAD A ZIGGURAT, A TEMPLE WITH A BUILDING AT ITS PEAK THE SUMERIANS BELIEVED IN MANY GODS THE BELIEF IN MANY GODS IS CALLED POLYTHEISM SOME OF THEIR GODS INCLUDED; ENLIL, AND EA

18. ZIGGURAT AT UR

24. ECONOMY AND SOCIETY SOME CITY-STATES LIKE URUK HAD UP TO 60,000 PEOPLE LIVING THERE AGRICULTURE MADE THIS POSSIBLE A DIVISION OF LABOR FORMED THIS MEANT THAT SOME PEOPLE HAD JOBS OTHER THAN FARMING SOME JOBS INCLUDED; CRAFTWORKERS, MANAGERS, AND MERCHANTS

25. THE DIVISION OF LABOR SOON LED TO DIFFERENT SOCIAL CLASSES THE HIGHEST SOCIAL CLASS BELONGED TO THE KING THE MIDDLE CLASS INCLUDED; MERCHANTS AND SCRIBES A SCRIBE IS A PERSON IN ANCIENT TIMES THAT CAN READ AND WRITE THE LOWEST CLASS HAD UNSKILLED WORKERS AND SLAVES THERE WAS ALSO A SOCIAL DIVISION BETWEEN MEN AND WOMEN.

26. INNOVATIONS AN INNOVATION IS A NEW WAY OF DOING THINGS A LAND INNOVATION WAS CALLED THE “ IKU ” OR “ACRE” TODAY MEASURING WHEAT AND BARLEY LED TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE QUART THE GREATEST INVENTION WAS THE DEVELOPMENT OF A SYSTEM OF WRITING . THIS SYSTEM OF WRITING WAS CALLED CUNEIFORM WRITING WAS DONE ON CLAY TABLETS

27. Hammurabi's Code

28. Mesopotamian Harp

29. Board Game from Ur

30. Metal Working Skills

31. Is Mesopotamia the 1 st Civilization? Advanced Cities? Specialized Workers ? Complex Institutions? Record Keeping? 5) Improved Technology?