78 • Chapter 3

CHAPTER 3

20°E 30°E

A F R I C A

River marked as Kur on proof is actually the Aras River.

Before You Read: Previewing Key ConceptsThe Big Idea below is a general historical idea. Rewrite this idea as three questions that can be answered as you read this chapter. One example is:

How did the geography of ancient Mesopotamia help agriculture develop?

Look for the answers to your questions as you read.

Big Ideas About Ancient MesopotamiaGeography Civilizations arise in geographic locations that help the development of agriculture or trade or both.

Mesopotamia is a region that has two great rivers. They provided ancient people with water for drinking and for crops. When the rivers flooded, they deposited fresh soil on the land, making it good for farming. In addition, it was easy to move trade goods by boat down the rivers.

Integrated Technology

• Interactive Maps• Interactive Visuals• Starting with a Story

Ancient Mesopotamia

INTERNET RESOURCES

• WebQuest• Homework Helper• Research Links• Internet Activities

• Quizzes• Maps• Test Practice• Current Events

Go to ClassZone.com for

Chapter

3Ancient MesopotamiaAncient Mesopotamia

5000 B.C.People by the Euphrates River begin to irrigate crops.(jug, about 3000 B.C.B.C.)

▲

4000 B.C.A dry period begins in Africa, causing the Sahara to spread.

▲ (the Sahara today)

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TIME LINE DISCUSSION

Begin the Chapter

Before You Read: Previewing Key ConceptsPreviewing key concepts helps students prepare for what they will be reading and helps them identify critical information.

Have students follow these steps:

• Read the Before You Read instructions and follow the steps.

• Repeat this process for each lesson as you read, using the main ideas listed on the first page of each lesson.

• As you read the lesson, look for answers to your questions, and jot down information as it comes up.

• After you have finished the lesson, make sure you have answered each question fully. Review the lesson if you need more information.

• At the end of the chapter, think about what you have learned about ancient Mesopotamia.

Objective

Describe the development of the first human civilizations and the factors that helped give rise to them.

Quick Look

Lesson 1 describes the geographic features of Mesopotamia, where the first civilizations would emerge.

Lesson 2 describes the first civilization and its growth.

Lesson 3 explores the life and culture of the first civilization at Sumer.

Use the time line to help students establish a time frame for the events and developments that led to the emergence of the earliest civilizations (sometime around 3300 B.C.).

• According to the time line, about how long after the introduction of irrigation along the Euphrates River did farming villages begin to grow into cities? (about 1,500 years)

• According to the time line, which came first: the development of cities or of a system of writing? (the development of cities)

• How long ago did writing develop in Mesopotamia? (about 5,000 years ago)

• How long after the development of cities in Mesopotamia did cities begin to emerge in the Indus River Valley? (about 1,000 years)

Ancient Mesopotamia • 79

CHAPTER 3Mesopotamia, 2400 B.C.

Tigris

River

Euphrates

River

Nile

River

Aras River

JordanRiver

Karkheh

River

S y r i a nD e s e r t

Z A G R O SM

OU

NTA

INS

ARABIANPENINSULA

40°E

30°N

40°N

M E S O P O T A MI A

MediterraneanSea

C a s p i a nS e a

Re d

Se a

PersianG

ulf

SUMER

UrEridu

Umma

Lagash

Nippur

Kish

A S I A

Fertile soil deposited by rivers

Sumerian cultural area

Modern coastline

N

S

EW

0

0 75 150 kilometers

75 150 miles

MapQuest.Com

wh06pe-0203co-006-mMesopotamia, 2400

Vital Information Area: 101p3 wide X 58p

Final proof date: 6/

2400 B.C.King Urukagina of Lagash reforms government.

3100 B.C.King Narmer unifies Egypt.

3000 B.C.The first system of writing is in use.

▲ (tablet, about 2100 B.C.B.C.)

3500 B.C.Farming villages grow into cities.

2600–2500 B.C.People in the Indus Valley build cities.

▲ (city ruins today)

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RECOMMENDED RESOURCES

Introduce the Big IdeasRead aloud the text about the Big Ideas. Have students think about how the geography of their region has affected development. For example, do students live in coastal areas, where trade has been important? Do they live in farming areas, where agriculture has spurred development? Here are some other Big Ideas that you may want to emphasize in this chapter.

CultureWays of living changed as people came together to live in Mesopotamian cities, leading to the growth of rich cultures.

GovernmentIn Mesopotamian civilizations, the need to develop codes of behavior and the need for protection led to the development of government.

Science and TechnologyNew inventions and discoveries helped make possible larger and more complex cities and civilizations.

Talk About ItInterpreting MapsAsk students to examine the map and its key. What geographic features are present in the area where all the cities are shown? (rivers and fertile soil) What natural barriers appear to limit the extent of the Sumerian cultural area? (the Syrian Desert, the Zagros Mountains, and the Persian Gulf)

An interactive version of this map is available on the eEdition and Power Presentations CD-ROMs.

Find Out MoreWhat countries and cultures exist in this part of the world today? Have students use an encyclopedia, maps in this book, and other sources to find out about settlement in this region of the modern world.

Watch the VideoAncient Mesopotamia helps students discover how ancient peoples lived and worked. This 23 minute video is part of the Ancient Civilizations for Children video series.

Books for the TeacherRoaf, Michael. The Cultural Atlas of Mesopotamia and the Ancient Near East. New York: Facts on File, 1990. Study of the history, geography, and archaeology of this region.

Roux, Georges. Ancient Iraq. London: Penguin Books, 1992. History of the Mesopotamian civilizations of ancient times.

VideosMesopotamia. 52 minutes. Richmond: Time-Life Video, 1995. Follows archaeologists searching biblical sights in the fertile crescent.

InternetTo access these sites, visit the Research Links for this chapter at ClassZone.com.

The British Museum. This site includes a rich collection of information on the geography and culture of ancient Mesopotamian civilizations.

Providence College’s CivWeb. Includes descriptions and links to many sources of information on Mesopotamian culture.