Chapter 2
Geography of the Fertile Crescent
Tigris and Euphrates Rivers
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These 1)rivers have
several smaller rivers
which feed into the
system.
The area is known as
2)Mesopotamia.
As part of the larger
3)Fertile Crescent, it
saw the earliest
4)urban civilization.
It is often called the
“5)Cradle of
Civilization".
Irrigation in Mesopotamia
The 6)irrigation
systems of
Mesopotamia were
different from ones in
modern day
 They had some major
components:
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7)Canals
8)Gated ditches
9)Levees
10)Gates
Irrigation in Mesopotamia
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This invention had two
main purposes –
◦ To 11)protect
Mesopotamia from the
threat of 12)flooding
◦ Provide 13)water into
areas that were not
close to the rivers
14)edge.
Benefits of Irrigation
(15)Surplus (having
more than you need)
of food
 Division of Labor
provided for:
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◦ (16)Quicker work
◦ (17)Better work
◦ (18)Specialized
Work
◦ (19)Structure and
Rules
Mind Map
Your Topic is
Irrigation
 Use all 6 bubbles
 Make sure to use less
than 4 words or a
picture.
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Sumer
The word means
“20)land of the
civilized lords" or
“21)native land"
 Located in the region of
southern
22)Mesopotamia(mod
ern Iraq)
 It was first settled
between 23)4500 and
4000 BC
 They drained the
marshes for
24)agriculture
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Sumer
Developed 25)trade
 Established industries
including:
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26)Weaving
27)Leatherwork
28)Metalwork
29)Masonry
30)Pottery
Mind Map
Your Topic is Sumer
 Use all 6 bubbles
 Make sure to use less
than 4 words or a
picture.
 Brain Pop-Sumerians
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Growth of the City State
The Sumer people
were 31)farmers
 Around 32)2000 BC
people moved into
33)cities.
 Combining the rural
and 34)urban
centers we see the
rise of 35)city
states.
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Gilgamesh
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The fifth king of
(36)Uruk
According to the
Sumerian king list he
reigned for (37)126 years
The (38)Epic of
Gilgamesh is the oldest
written story on Earth.
It was originally written
on 12 (39)clay tablets
Gilgamesh
It is about the
(40)adventures of
the historical King of
(41)Uruk
 These stories were
the first written
(42)mythology.
 Video
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Mind Map
Your Topic is
Gilgamesh
 Use all 4 bubbles
 Make sure to use less
than 4 words or a
picture.
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Sumerian Religions
They practiced
43)polytheism (many
gods)
 They worshipped a god
named 44)An as their
primary god.
 The 45)gods each had
associations with
different 46)cities
 Their religious
47)importance often
changed according to
how power the
48)cities were.
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Sumerian Religions
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The 49)gods were
said to have created
human beings from
50)clay.
They often expressed
their 51)anger and
frustration through
52)earthquakes and
storms.
The 53)religion
seemed to imply that
humanity was at the
54)mercy of the gods.
Ziggurats
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The 55)ziggurats were not
places for public worship or
56)ceremonies.
They were believed to be
57)dwelling places for the
gods.
Only 58)priests were
permitted inside.
It was their
59)responsibility to care for
the gods and attend to their
60)needs
As a result the 61)priests
were very powerful members
of 62)Sumerian society.
Mind Map
Your Topic is
Sumerian Religion
 Use all 6 bubbles
 Make sure to use less
than 4 words or a
picture.
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