Chapter 2
Early
Civilizations
The Fertile Crescent
 What
does the
word Fertile mean?
 What can you infer
about the area
based on it’s
name?
 Formed around the
Tigris and
Euphrates Rivers
Geography of the Fertile
Crescent
Benefits
 Fresh
Water
 Fish
 Rich
Soil
Problems
 Low
Rainfall
 Heat (Temps. can
get higher than 120
degrees!)
Geography of the Fertile
Crescent
 What
is a surplus?
 How would you explain the effect of
surplus food on an area?


Population Grows
If surplus continues a specialization of labor
occurs.
 This
means that not every one has to be a
farmer.
 Jobs as Artists, Shop Keepers, Traders, Priests,
Governors and more begin to form!
A Civilization is Formed!
 Civilization:
Groups of people who have a
complex and organized society within a
culture
 The land the first civilization was formed in
was called: Mesopotamia

Mesopotamia mean “land between two
rivers”, why?
Six Characteristics of a
Civilization






A system of government that directs and controls
some actions of the members of society.
A regular food supply that is not likely to suddenly
change.
Specialization of labor, in which members of the
society perform different jobs.
Different social levels, in which some members of the
society are given higher status than others.
A highly developed culture including art,
architecture, music, literature, science, writing and
other complex technologies.
A religious system, which might include priests and
temples.
“What’s a city-state?”
 City-State:
a city that is an individual unit
with its own form of government and
traditions
 City-States can form because surplus food
allows people to settle in one area!
Assignment

Answer the following two-part writing prompt
in paragraph form on a lined piece of
paper:



1. Is the U.S. a civilization according to the six
characteristics explained in class? Provide
examples for each characteristic.
2. Does a civilization, in your opinion, need to
have all of the characteristics mentioned? Why
or why not?
This is due: Friday August 31 and can also be
found on the wiki page
Lesson 2
Mesopotamia Culture and
Places
Religion
 What
is a religion where multiple gods are
worshipped called?


Polytheism
People living in this area believed that gods
effected every area of their lives
 What
examples of this can you find on p.42 of
your book?
Ziggurat
 Consisted
of a series of stacked
rectangular platforms that formed a huge
pyramid-shaped structure around 290
feet high.
 Built to link the heavens to the earth.
Government
 Religion
and Government were linked
 They believed that the right to rule (king) is
god-given.

Called Divine Kingship
 They
also believed rule could be passed
from father to son.
Class System
 Social






Classes in Mesopotamia
Wealthy
Landowners
Government workers
Artists
Farmers
Slaves