Chapter 3

Mesopotamia Section I: Geography of the Fertile Crescent

Section II: The Rise of Sumer

Section Focus

Section Focus

• First major civilization was located

on Tigris & Euphrates Rivers

• Area was called Mesopotamia

– “Land between the Rivers”

– “Cradle of Civilization”

– “Fertile Crescent”

• Located in modern day Iraq

The Rise of Civilization • Annual river floods brought

silt that improved farming.

• Plentiful food led to

population growth and the

formation of villages:

– Grew wheat, barley, grain

– Raised livestock, birds, fish

• Villages later developed into the

world’s first civilizations.

Farming and Cities

• Used irrigation levees and

canals as a way to control

river flow.

• Fewer people needed to farm

because of food surplus.

• New occupations

developed and organization

was needed.

Farming and Cities

With irrigation, the people of Mesopotamia

were able to grow more food.

Later, people built canals to

protect houses from flooding

and move water to their

fields.

Early settlements in Mesopotamia were located

near rivers. Water was not controlled, and

flooding was a major problem.

• First settled area in Mesopotamia was Sumer:

– Government & Laws

– Economics

– Culture

– Religion

• Completely dependent on

rivers and land.

• Began city-states to protect land and people.

An Advanced Society

An Advanced Society • City-states are independent cities with their own

government and land.

• City-states would fight over land and religions.

An Advanced Society

Rise of the Empire • Over time different leaders

conquered region.

• First empire was created when Sargon united areas of Akkad & Sumer.

• After Sargon died people fought for power and control.

Sargon’s Empire

Religion & Society • Priests became kings of the

city-states and took control of government.

• Believed priests talked to gods which gave them a lot of power.

• Power became hereditary (passed from parent to child.)

Religion & Society • Mesopotamia had over

3000 gods (polytheistic.)

• Gods were the forces of nature

(wind, rain, floods, etc.)

• Temples called Ziggurats

were built to honor gods.

Sumerian Social Order • Priest-kings established a

social hierarchy, or ranking

system, for the people:

– Kings

– Priests

– Craftspeople

– Traders

– Farmers

– Slaves

Sumerian Social Order