1. Mesopotamia Land Between the Rivers
Unit 7 Mesopotamia
11/16/2015

2. BABYLONIAN ZIGGURAT

3. Map Reading: Mesopotamia
What two rivers run through the Fertile Crescent?
What body of water do the rivers flow into?
What sea is located to the west of the rivers?
What is the area called that is shown by the color pink?

4. The Empires of Mesopotamia
Sumer
Babylonia
Assyria
People are called Sumerians
Existed 3000 BCE-1800 BCE
Know for farming, cuneiform, & wheel
People are called Babylonians
Existed 1800 BCE-1200 BCE
Known for creating 1st laws
People are called Assyrians
Existed 1200 BCE-539 BCE
Known for being fierce warriors & traders

5. About Ancient Mesopotamia
What does Mesopotamia mean?
Where is Mesopotamia located?
Why was this a good place for the 1st civilization?
The land between the rivers.
Mesopotamia is current day IRAQ
The middle east
Between Africa and Asia
Fertile Crescent: Large arc of fertile land
Tigris & Euphrates made farming possible
Cattle, goats, pigs, & sheep were found here

6. Inventions of Mesopotamia
Wheel
Cuneiform
Laws
Trade and War
The Sumerians invented the wheel to help with farming.
The Sumerians created the 1st writing system to help keep track of cattle and crops.
King Hammurabi of Babylonia created 282 laws about everyday life.
Assyria were great conquerors and traders.

7. Challenges in Mesopotamia
Unpredictable Floods
No Farming
Safety
Floods would destroy crops, homes, and people
SOME areas were marshy and unsuitable for farming.
Land was vulnerable to attacks and invasions.

8. The invention of Agriculture changed the way people lived.
Agriculture (Farming)
Growth of Cities
Division of Labor (Specialization)
Trade
Writing and Mathematics