1. BELLWORK Read “The Fertile Crescent” on pgs 34-35 and answer the following questions: 1.Describe The Fertile Crescent. 2.What did the Sumerians build along the Tigris-Euphrates river valley? Why? 3.What is a city-state? How was government set up in city- states? 4.What rights did men and women have in Mesopotamia? 5.List four achievements the Sumerians made in ancient Mesopotamia. 6.THINKER: As you know, early civilizations centered around rivers, but these rivers often flooded. How did the people living here control seasonal floodwaters?

2. Mesopotamia Today you are going to learn about the ancient civilization of Mesopotamia. This civilization was formed between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers in present- day Iraq. As you read, complete the following worksheet. These are your notes for the section so make sure it’s completed accurately! Be ready to discuss!

12. REVIEW Describe the characteristics of the Fertile Crescent. List four advances the Sumerians made with regards to farming and agriculture. Describe the Sumerian religious practices. What is cuneiform? Who was Hammurabi? Why is he important? Who were the Assyrians? Why were they successful? In your opinion, what was the greatest achievement of Mesopotamia?

13. Hammurabi’s Code As you know, Hammurabi’s Code was very harsh, but it became one of the earliest attempts at law. You are now going to read over 25 laws within Hammurabi’s Code. You must pick 10 and translate them into modern language. We will do the first one as an example.