1. ANCIENT CIVILIZATIONS
CHAPTER 2
The Fertile Crescent

2. Chapter 2, Section 1 Land Between Two Rivers Day 1
Tuesday
Chapter 1 Objectives:
Students will:
Found out how geography made the rise of civilization in the Fertile Crescent possible.
Learn about Sumer‘s first cities.
Learn about the two most important empires in Mesopotamia.
Essential Question:
Why does where matter?
Under what conditions should human culture attempt to change the processes that shape the natural environment?
What makes a place culturally unique?
Under what conditions do cultures spread?
How does the geography of where we live effect our lives?
Geography Standard 1-4
History Standard 4
Warm Up: Read Map Master page 33
Complete the questions under Identify and Apply Information
Agenda:
Warm Up/Hand in Homework.
Read pgs
Watch Petra: Secrets of the Read City – Discover School
Read Farming in Mesopotamia page 40 & 41
Homework:
Finish Assessment on page 41

3. Farming in Mesopotamia
You’re going to create a Mesopotamian Farming manual
You will have a total of 6 steps, describe the steps in order and next to each description draw a picture that represents the step.

4. Steps to Farming in Mesopotamia
Local officials decided when to open flood gates
Animals grazed in soil to trample ground and eat weeds

5. Steps Local officials decide when to let water flow onto crops
Farmers let animals graze in soil to trample and eat weeds.
Farmers break up the soil using hand tools
Spread seeds and plow
Plant seeds
Harvest the plants

6. Chapter 2, Section 1 Land Between Two Rivers Day 2
Wednesday
Chapter 1 Objectives:
Students will:
Found out how geography made the rise of civilization in the Fertile Crescent possible.
Learn about Sumer‘s first cities.
Learn about the two most important empires in Mesopotamia.
Essential Question:
Why does where matter?
Under what conditions should human culture attempt to change the processes that shape the natural environment?
What makes a place culturally unique?
Under what conditions do cultures spread?
How does the geography of where we live effect our lives?
Geography Standard 1-4
History Standard 4
Warm Up: Go over Homework - Assessment on page 41
Agenda:
Warm Up
Mesopotamia: The Development of Written Language (united Streaming)
Questions
Mesopotamia: From Nomads to Farmers (united Streaming)

7. Vocabulary Mesopotamia: The Development of Written Language
city-state
Definition: A self-governing state consisting of a city and surrounding territory
Context: Nippur was the most important city-state in Sumer.
cuneiform
Definition: The system of writing used by the ancient Sumerians
Context: Cuneiform writing looks more like symbols than pictures.
demon
Definition: An evil spirit
Context: According to Sumerian legend, Gilgamesh killed the demon Huwawa with the help of the sun god.

8. Vocabulary Mesopotamia: The Development of Written Language
epic
Definition: A long poem telling the deeds of a hero and often centering on the ideals of a nation or culture
Context: The Epic of Gilgamesh teaches us to enjoy the time we have on Earth.
immortality
Definition: The quality or state of having an endless life
Context: Gilgamesh was unable to achieve immortality, but he was able to leave behind a legacy through the work he had done during his lifetime.
Mesopotamia
Definition: An ancient land located where we find the modern country of Iraq
Context: Mesopotamia means, “land between the rivers” and got its name because it was located between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers.
Nippur
Definition: A major city-state in the ancient Sumerian region of Mesopotamia
Context: Nippur was a busy trading center in Sumer and its most important religious city.

9. Vocabulary Mesopotamia: The Development of Written Language
scribe
Definition: A person paid to write, especially in ancient times
Context: Mesopotamian scribes worked closely with the priests and kings.
stylus
Definition: A hard, pointed writing tool cut from a reed
Context: Sumerian scribe wrote with styluses they made from reeds.
Sumerians
Definition: Residents of Sumer, a region of the ancient land of Mesopotamia
Context: The Sumerians developed many inventions, such as the wheel and the plow.
tablet
Definition: A flat slab – often of clay or stone – suitable for an inscription
Context: The Sumerians etched symbols into wet clay tablets to create a permanent document of their activities.

10. Questions Mesopotamia: The Development of Written Language
What was the importance of scribes in Mesopotamia?
Why did the scribes have greater access to the priests and kings than other people in the city-states?
How long did it take to train a scribe?
What is the name of the training school where scribes learn how to write?

11. Vocabulary Mesopotamia: From Nomads to Farmers
ancestors
Definition: People in one’s family, from whom one is descended
Context: Your ancestors include your grandparents, great grandparents, and great-great grandparents.
cuneiform
Definition: The system of writing used by the ancient Sumerians
Context: Cuneiform writing consists of characters with wedge-shaped parts.
domestication
Definition: The taming of wild animals to use for farming or to be kept as pets
Context: The domestication of sheep and goats helped the Mesopotamians become farmers.
Euphrates River
Definition: One of the rivers that borders what was the land of Mesopotamia.
Context: The Euphrates River bordered Mesopotamia to the west. .

12. Vocabulary Mesopotamia: From Nomads to Farmers.
journal
Definition: A record of personal experiences and thoughts kept on a regular basis
Context: Writing a journal can help you understand yourself.
levee
Definition: Earthen dams constructed to hold back floodwaters
Context: A levee system helped the Mesopotamians farm their most fertile land.
Mesopotamia
Definition: An ancient land located where we find the modern country of Iraq
Context: Mesopotamia means, “land between the rivers” and got its name because it was located between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers.

13. Vocabulary Mesopotamia: From Nomads to Farmers.
Nippur
Definition: A major city-state in the ancient Sumerian region of Mesopotamia
Context: Nippur was a busy trading center in Sumer and its most important religious city.
scribe
Definition: A person paid to write, especially in ancient times
Context: The job of a scribe was considered important in Sumer.
stylus
Definition: A hard, pointed writing tool cut from a reed
Context: Sumerians pressed the point of a stylus into wet clay in order to write.

14. Vocabulary Mesopotamia: From Nomads to Farmers.
Sumerians
Definition: Residents of Sumer, a region of the ancient land of Mesopotamia
Context: Sumerians developed a culture whose members farmed and traded instead of hunting and gathering to make a living.
Tigris River
Definition: One of the rivers that borders what was the land of Mesopotamia
Context: The Tigris River bordered Mesopotamia to the east.

15. Questions Mesopotamia: From Nomads to Farmers
Why did the ancient Sumerians look for new ways to produce their food?
How did growing crops and domesticating animals like sheep and goats allow the Sumerians to build cities and live in one place all year long?
What does the word “Mesopotamia” mean?
Between which rivers did Mesopotamia lie?
Why did the soil of the Mesopotamian region of Sumer grow such good crops?
What problem at first made farming difficult there and how did the Sumerians solve it?

16. Questions Mesopotamia: From Nomads to Farmers
In what other way did the Sumerians control the rivers?
What important farming tool did the Sumerians invent?
What else did the Mesopotamians invent?
What do we call their system of writing?
What tools did the Mesopotamians use for writing?
What did the Sumerians put into writing before any other society?
What was the name of the temple where Sumerians believed their gods lived?
Of what material were the houses in Sumerian cities made?

17. Chapter 2 Section 2 Babylonia and Assyria
Thursday
Chapter 1 Objectives:
Students will:
Found out how geography made the rise of civilization in the Fertile Crescent possible.
Learn about Sumer‘s first cities.
Learn about the two most important empires in Mesopotamia.
Geography Standard 1-4
History Standard 4
Warm Up: In your own words define the following words – Empire, Caravan, Bazaar
Agenda:
Warm Up
Read pgs
Have the students create a Venn Diagram like the one found on page 42.
List appropriate details in the “Babylonia” circle.
Read pgs
List appropriate details in the “Assyrians” circle.
If there is time, Section 2 Assessment on page 46

18. Assyria

19. Babylon

20. Babylonia v. Assyria Venn Diagram Mesopotamia Empires
Babylonia Assyria

21. Babylonia v. Assyria Venn Diagram Mesopotamia Empires
Babylonia Assyria

22. Chapter 2 Section 3 The Legacy of Mesopotamia
Friday
Chapter 1 Objectives:
Students will:
Found out how geography made the rise of civilization in the Fertile Crescent possible.
Learn about Sumer‘s first cities.
Learn about the two most important empires in Mesopotamia.
Essential Question:
Why does where matter?
Under what conditions should human culture attempt to change the processes that shape the natural environment?
What makes a place culturally unique?
Under what conditions do cultures spread?
How does the geography of where we live effect our lives?
Geography Standard 1-4
History Standard 4
Warm Up: In this section you will learn of the advances made by the Mesopotamians, including the art of writing.
Think about how your lives would different without writing.
Agenda:
Warm Up
Read pgs
Writing Activity
Guided Reading Handout

23. Writing Activity Read the quote on page 50
What do you think will happen to the gardeners according to Hammurabi’s Code, even after they pay for the dates?
What do you think should happen to the gardeners?

24. The Fertile Crescent Chapter 2 Notes
Summary
Stretching from the coast of the Mediterranean Sea in present day Israel to the Persian Gulf, the Fertile Crescent was the birthplace of many early civilizations.
The Tigris and Euphrates Rivers provided ideal conditions for human settlement, with the first civilizations rising in Mesopotamia, or the land between the rivers.

25. Chapter 2 Section 4 Mediterranean Civilizations
Monday
Chapter 1 Objectives:
Students will:
Found out how geography made the rise of civilization in the Fertile Crescent possible.
Learn about Sumer‘s first cities.
Learn about the two most important empires in Mesopotamia.
Essential Question:
Why does where matter?
Under what conditions should human culture attempt to change the processes that shape the natural environment?
What makes a place culturally unique?
Under what conditions do cultures spread?
How does the geography of where we live effect our lives?
Geography Standard 1-4
History Standard 4
Warm Up: What happens to a story as it is retold over a long period of time?
What important development changed the way stories were told?
Agenda:
Warm Up
FETC
Read pgs
Map Master questions pg. 53 & 55
Section 4 assessment pg. 57

26. Chapter 2 Section 5 Judaism
Tuesday
Chapter 1 Objectives:
Students will:
Found out how geography made the rise of civilization in the Fertile Crescent possible.
Learn about Sumer‘s first cities.
Learn about the two most important empires in Mesopotamia.
Essential Question:
Why does where matter?
Under what conditions should human culture attempt to change the processes that shape the natural environment?
What makes a place culturally unique?
Under what conditions do cultures spread?
How does the geography of where we live effect our lives?
Geography Standard 1-4
History Standard 4
Warm Up: What is Monotheism (hint: see pg.55)
Agenda:
Warm up
Read pages 60-64
Notes for Chapter 2
Writing Activity page 64

27. Mrs. White’s Class RULES!!!
Chapter 2 Review
Wednesday
Chapter 1 Objectives:
Students will:
Found out how geography made the rise of civilization in the Fertile Crescent possible.
Learn about Sumer‘s first cities.
Learn about the two most important empires in Mesopotamia.
Essential Question:
What were the beginnings of human society?
How has geography shaped the patterns of history?
Geography Standard 1-4
History Standard 4
Warm Up: Notes! 
Agenda:
Warm Up
Study Guide
Mrs. White’s Class RULES!!!

28. Section 1: Land Between Two Rivers
Chapter 2 Notes
Section 1: Land Between Two Rivers
Mesopotamia lay between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. These two rivers and the rich, fertile soil drew people to the region.
The early people of Mesopotamia became farmers and then builders of cities. The most successful and advanced cities were the city-states of Sumer.

29. Section 2: Babylonia and Assyria
Chapter 2 Notes
Section 2: Babylonia and Assyria
After the fall of Sumer, the biggest and most important civilizations were the empires of Babylonia and Assyria.
These civilizations built grand cities
where culture and learning were
highly valued.

30. Section 3: The Legacy of Mesopotamia
Chapter 2 Notes
Section 3: The Legacy of Mesopotamia
The Mesopotamians were probably the first to develop two of the key components of almost all civilizations—a system of writing and a set of written laws.

31. Section 4: Mediterranean Civilizations
Chapter 2 Notes
Section 4: Mediterranean Civilizations
Phoenicia developed into a great sea power with trade routes throughout the Mediterranean region.
These trade routes brought great wealth and knowledge to the Phoenicians.
The Phoenicians developed a system of writing with an alphabet of 22 letters. This alphabet formed the basis of the alphabets that many nations use today.

32. Chapter 2 Notes Section 5: Judaism
To the Israelites, history and religion were closely joined and were recorded in the Torah.
The Israelites' beliefs developed into the religion we know today as Judaism. Judaism, still one of the world's major religions, had an important early influence on two later religions, Christianity and Islam.

33. Chapter 2 Review The Fertile Crescent
Thursday
Chapter 1 Objectives:
Students will:
Found out how geography made the rise of civilization in the Fertile Crescent possible.
Learn about Sumer‘s first cities.
Learn about the two most important empires in Mesopotamia.
Essential Question:
What were the beginnings of human society?
How has geography shaped the patterns of history?
Geography Standard 1-4
History Standard 4
Warm Up:
Continue working on your study guide.
When you are done completing the Standardized Test Prep on page 67 
Agenda:
Warm Up
Study Guide
Review
STUDY, STUDY, STUDY… the test is tomorrow!!!

34. Rome Alexandria Jerusalem Carthage
Directions: Name the concept represented by all the sections in the circle
Rome
Alexandria
Jerusalem
Carthage

35. Judaisim Islam Christianity
Directions: Name the concept represented by all the sections in the circle
Judaisim
Islam
Christianity