This document is an outline for a World History class lecture on early civilizations in Mesopotamia. It discusses how the geography of the Fertile Crescent influenced Sumerian culture, including the development of city-states and a system of dynastic rule. Key aspects of Sumerian culture are summarized, such as their polytheistic religious beliefs as expressed in texts like the Epic of Gilgamesh, social hierarchy composed of priests, merchants and workers, and technological innovations including writing, use of metals, and wheeled vehicles. The outline also notes the later Akkadian and Babylonian empires that rose in Mesopotamia and consolidated power across the region.