1. Establishing the first civilizations

2. The challenge of geography
LOCATION 1
LOCATION 2
Few natural resources (e.g. minerals, forests)
Mountains not high enough to protect from invaders
Arid soil
Catastrophic floods common
Hot, dry summers cause droughts
Wet winters create muddy plains
Only building materials are clay & reeds
Predictable flooding brings annual deposits of fertile soil
River delta is swampy, but provides pasture lands & sources of food (e.g. ducks, geese)
Surrounding deserts provide protection & valuable resources (e.g. gold, granite, copper)
Access to a large sea provides trade routes to obtain diverse goods & spread knowledge
NO NEED TO WRITE THIS DOWN.
Which location seems more desirable for human habitation?
It is likely that students will conclude that the location on the right is more desirable.
Point out that even the right side location has its challenges (e.g. surrounding deserts would prevent expansion, meaning population control would be essential)
Is there any way to make both areas desirable for human habitation?
Possible suggestions include the development of an irrigation system to make farming possible, trade networks to bring in materials needed, build defenses to make up for lack of natural defenses.
Which location has the ingredients necessary to develop an advanced civilization?
Really, the answer is both. The left hand side is a description of the southern part of Mesopotamia, the world’s first civilization, and the right side is a description of Egypt, where the second major civilization was established soon after.
Transition to reading the introduction on pp. 33 & 35: Remind students that beneficial geography can certainly help develop a great civilization, but the challenges of geography can be overcome when other factors of a great civilization are present (e.g. a strong leader or government to organize an irrigation system).

3. Mesopotamia Earliest civilization, beginning around 3500 BCE
“Land between 2 rivers” (Tigris & Euphrates)
Location of modern Iraq
1st place in the world where people had permanent settlements, legal codes, writing, religious buildings, the wheel and kings
Also called the “fertile crescent” or “cradle of civilization”

4. Mesopotamia Arid soil Hot, dry climate Lack of resources
Region seems inhospitable:
Arid soil
Hot, dry climate
Lack of resources
Unpredictable floods
North more suitable due to:
Predictable rainfall
Rocky riverbanks=less flooding
Forested near mountains
Closer to resources of surrounding areas (e.g. tin, gold, silver)
Lacks resources like trees, minerals
Though rivers and their flooding are source of problems, they are also a source of solutions.

5. Mesopotamia
MAY WANT TO MAKE A DRAWING OF A LEVEE IN YOUR NOTES TO HELP YOU VISUALIZE/REMEMBER
Swamps & deserts between the levees limited communication with other civilizations
People attracted to levees (build up of sediments along river banks)
Safest place during a flood
Floods leave behind fertile soil that is easily drained, irrigated & cultivated
Nearby swamps provide food (e.g. fish) & reeds for building/animal feed

6. Mesopotamia
If you adapt to challenging geography it is not an impediment to civilization.
Flood control via canals and irrigation ditches.
Key to civilization in Mesopotamia: learning to control the floods & irrigate the arid soil

7. EGYPT Founded around 3100 BCE
Begins as scattered villages along the Nile
Predictable floods (July-Oct) bring fertile soil
River essential for irrigation, drinking water, travel & communication
Nile delta source of food, good pasture lands & trade links to Mediterranean
Civ begins in Egypt about 400 years after it begins in Mesopotamia
Egyptian farming calendars based around Nile flooding.
Floods were mostly beneficial, but years with water levels that were too high or too low led to famines.

8. EGYPT Surrounded by Libyan & Arabian desert Provide protection
Filled with minerals (e.g. gold, granite, precious stones)
Wadis (dry riverbeds or valleys that only contain water during the rainy season) provided wine & natrun (salt for embalming)
Isolated Egypt contributing to a stable & conservative culture
Another term sometimes used for wadi is oasis

9. Quick write: The importance GEOGRAPHY
Please write a paragraph responding to the following questions:
What role did geography play in the development of the civilizations of Mesopotamia and Egypt? Could such great civilizations have developed without these geographic advantages?