1. The Cradle of Civilization
In this lesson, we will examine the rise of agriculture, permanent settlements, and civilizations.
Students will be able to define the following terms:
Neolithic Revolution
Mesopotamia
Sumerians
Cuneiform
Ziggurats
M. Heath

2. Mesopotamia is the “land between the
rivers”…The Tigris and Euphrates rivers
M. Heath

3. The Neolithic Revolution
Around 10,000 years ago, people learned to farm and domesticate animals.
This event is called the Neolithic Revolution. It is a turning point.
Agriculture developed near rivers.
M. Heath

4. Agriculture greatly changed societies.
M. Heath

5. Agriculture developed in river valleys
because rivers provided water for
irrigation and transportation.
M. Heath

6. The Effects of the Neolithic Revolution
When people learned to farm and domesticate animals, societies greatly changed.
Some of the effects of the Neolithic Revolution were:
People settled.
People built cities.
People developed civilizations.
M. Heath

7. With the development of agriculture, people stopped being nomads.
They settled.
M. Heath

8. The Sumerians
The Sumerians were the first people to develop a civilization.
A civilization is a complex society. Characteristics of a civilization include:
Agriculture and Agricultural Surplus
Specialization (Surplus allowed people to perform different jobs.)
Advanced Technology
Cities
Writing
M. Heath

9. Specialization means that people perform
different jobs. Some people farm while
others are government officials.
M. Heath

10. Mesopotamia The Sumerians developed a civilization in Mesopotamia.
Mesopotamia is a Greek word. It means “between the rivers.”
Mesopotamia was the land between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers in present-day Iraq.
M. Heath

11. The Sumerians built ziggurats. Ziggurats
were Sumerian temples to the gods. The
Sumerians believed in many gods.
Polytheism is the belief in many gods.
M. Heath

12. Cuneiform The Sumerians also developed a system of writing.
Sumerian writing is called cuneiform.
The development of writing helped the Sumerians keep records.
M. Heath

13. Cuneiform was Sumerian writing. It used
characters. Wedge-shaped characters
were pressed into clay tablets.
M. Heath

14. Questions for Reflection:
What was the Neolithic Revolution?
Where did the Neolithic Revolution begin?
How did societies change with the introduction of agriculture?
Define Mesopotamia.
Why is Mesopotamia referred to as the “cradle of civilization”?
List three accomplishments of the Sumerians.
Define cuneiform, ziggurat, and polytheism.
M. Heath