1. MESOPOTAMIA: THE LAND BETWEEN THE RIVERS
A Study of the Fertile Crescent and Its People
Laura Orlowski ED

2. Unit 1: 7th grade Social Studies Early Civilizations
Objective: To teach students about the importance of the early river valley civilizations. To teach students about the historical facts and the characteristics of early civilizations and how those early civilizations impacted later cultures and people.
Materials Needed: Power Point presentation
Student Activities: Students will take notes from the slides in their notebooks and we will play a review game at the end of the presentation.

3. History of Mesopotamia: the Land
Why is it called the land between the two rivers?
Tigris & Euphrates
Civilization sprang up in this area over 6000 years ago because of the two rivers.
The area is sometimes nicknamed the fertile crescent because the land is so fertile.

4. Mesopotamia’s early settlers
Rains were seasonal in this area, which meant that the land flooded in the winter and spring and water was scarce at other times.
Mesopotamian farmers learned how to control the ebb and flow of water by constructing a complex irrigation system of dams and dykes.

5. Agriculture in Sumer
Farmers had to work together cooperatively in order to keep the dykes and irrigation ditches free from the build-up of dirt, sediment, and vegetation.
The fruits of the farmers’ labors were plenty…
Sumerian farmers were able to grow more wheat and barley than what they needed and so they traded their surplus grains for needed supplies and/or other resources.

6. The Rise of the Sumerians
In 3500 BC, Sumerians invaded the existing settlements of the Ubaidians, in southern Mesopotamia.
The southern section of Mesopotamia came to be known as Sumer.
Sumerians erected city-states throughout the region. Each city-state was ruled by its own king.

7. Sumer’s Success
The Sumerian empire grew wealthy from farming and the vast amount of trade that took place.
One of the greatest accomplishments of the Sumerian people was the invention of the earliest known system of writing-cuneiform.

8. Sumer’s Lasting Impact
The Sumerians impacted later civilizations and empires, with their skilled abilities in the areas of:
1.) Engraving
2.) Bleaching and Dying Fabrics
3.) Development of Measuring and Surveying Equipment
4.) Innovation of Corals and Dams for the purpose of Irrigation.

9. Conflict and Divisiveness in Sumer
Due to the vast number of city-states throughout the Sumerian empire, conflict and dissension became more and more prevalent.
Because of the Sumerians inability to adequately unify under one leader, they were eventually conquered by King Sargon of Akkad in 2000 BC.

10. The Fall of Sumer and the Rise of Baybylon
King Sargon swept into the region and established his Babylonian empire.
The Sumerian empire was overrun and its people either moved on or were absorbed into the Babylonian society.

11. Web Sites
“Collapse:Why do Civilizations Fall?” © Annenberg Media. Access date:9/27/07>
“Sumer” Access date: 9/27/07>
“Mesopotamia” The British Museum. Access date:9/27/07>
“Ancient Mesopotamia” Access date: 9/27/07>
Internet Ancient History Sourcebook:Mesopotamia. Access date: 9/27/07>