GEOGRAPHY

First civilizations arose in river valleys

Cities develop and become the center of the civilizations

Rivers made for good farming conditions

Rivers made travel and trade easier

• What two rivers was Mesopotamia between?

Tigris and Euphrates

It was called “the land between two rivers” and was in the eastern part of the Fertile Crescent

• What were the pros and cons of the rivers flooding?

• How did the farmers learn how to control the flooding?

CON: frequent and unpredictable; it could flood one year, but not the next year

PRO: left behind rich soil for farming

Built dams and channels to control the river; to irrigate (water the crops) their field

Why were the Sumerian cities isolated from each other?

What types of natural resources did Mesopotamia have?

By geography (mudflats and patches of scorching desert)

Mesopotamia had very little natural resources. Important resources like gold, copper, tin, and wood were rare.

Economics

What occupation did most Sumerians do?

What are artisans?

Skilled workers who made metal products, clothing or pottery.

They were farmers.

What other groups of workers were part of Sumer?

What did they trade for?

Merchants and traders; they used the rivers to trade the only real resources that had, a surplus of food and innovative tools.

In return they would get the natural resources Mesopotamia lacked, like copper, tin, and timber.

Achievements

Mesopotamians invented and improved the design of the wheel.

Cuneiform was a wedge shaped language developed by the Sumerians in Mesopotamia.

- Cuneiform was mainly used for business and record keeping

Children (of rich families) would be trained to become Scribes. Scribes were individuals skilled in reading and writing.

The PlowThe Mesopotamians also invented the plow. This tool was used to turn up the soil (tilling), so that farming could be made easier! Notice the use of animals, got to love domestication!

Great at Math?

1. Began using a simple geometry (math for shapes, and reasoning). Very useful for building Ziggurats and irrigation systems.

2. Created a number system based on 60. (We use a base ten system)

3. Designed a 12 month calendar based on the movements of the moon.

Mathematical Developments: