THE FERTILE CRESCENT

SECTION 1: LAND BETWEEN

TWO RIVERS

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FIRST SCHOOLS• Developed in the land

of Sumer.• 4,000 years ago. • Graduates of schools

became Scribes.• Scribe:– Professional Writers. – Kept records for kings

and priests. – Began school at age 8.– Finished 10 years later.

GEOGRAPHICAL SETTING

• Sumer was located in region called Mesopotamia.• Rich Soil• One of the most prosperous areas of the ancient world.

• MESOPOTAMIA:– Greek word= “Between

the rivers”.

• Fertile Crescent:– Region in Southwest

Asia that was the site of the world’s first civilization.

– Rivers make the shape of a crescent around the city.

– Great for farming

LOCATION

LIFE• TIGRIS and

EUPHRATES rivers main source.

• Rivers supplied:– Rich Soil – Fish– Clay (for building)– Reeds (build boats)

DEATH• Floods did not

always happen the same time each year.

• Swept away people, animals, crops, and houses.

• Rebuild and pray next flood not be so destructive.

RIVERS OF LIFE AND DEATH

Checking for Understanding

•How did flooding rivers affect people who settled in Mesopotamia?

• Flooding made – Farming: which

allowed for people to prosper and live in Mesopotamia.

– Floods also sometimes swept away

– People– Animals – Crops– And Homes.

• City-State:– A city that is also

a separate, independent state.

• Shared:– Common Culture.– Language.

• Did not share:– Same Ruler

• Acted as independent states.

• Had own:–God/

Goddess.–Government–Army–King

INDEPENDENT CITIES FORM

Checking for Understanding

•How were the cities of Sumer Governed?

•Each City had its own–Government –Laws

• Public Squares– Marketplaces.

• Merchants• Acrobats• Beggars

• Scribes: – Wrote letters for those

who could not read/write for a fee $$$.

• Houses:– Faced away from the

streets.– Faced inner courtyards.– Hot nights, slept on top

of houses.– Oil Lamps

SUMERIAN CITY

• ZIGGURAT:– Site of the temple

to the main god or goddess of the city.

• Made of Terraces• Up to 7 stories high.• Top: Shrine• Believed that gods

descended to earth using the ziggurat as a stairway.

SUMERIAN RELIGIONSumerian Temples

• POLYTHEISM:– Belief in many

gods.

• MYTHS:– Stories about gods that

explain people’s beliefs.

• Gods would punish people who angered them.

• Serve the Gods well and you shall be rewarded.

• Would honor the gods in ceremonies.

ANCIENT RELIGIOUS BELIEFS

• Their Wealth became their downfall.

• City-states fought each other over land and use of the river water.

• 2300 B.C.– Conquered by AKKAD. – King SARGON united the

city-states and improved Government.

• Remained united for 100 years.

• 2000 B.C. lost all power.

• 1700s B.C.: –Fell to

Babylonia

THE FALL OF SUMER

Checking for Understanding

•What weakened the Cities of Sumer?

• Fights between city-states began over the use of–Land–Water–Which led to

frequent battles that weakened Sumer’s rulers and armies.