Mesopotamia

Mesopotamia was known as the "Fertile Crescent "because

of its crescent shape and availability of fertile or "rich "soil…good for planting.

Canals and irrigation ditches were built to

redirect the water to the fields.

Sumerians

________ developed a system for controlling the flow and direction of water from the rivers.

Polytheism

________: belief in many gods.

Mesopotamia

There were many city- states that developed in ________.

Sumerians

________ believed their purpose on Earth was to serve the gods.

Mesopotamia was located

between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers.

Important Inventions

irrigation systems, the plow, the wheel/cart

Polytheism

belief in many gods

They were viewed as often hostile and unpredictable

similar to the natural environment around them

The first major civilization was

Sumer

Slaves and peasants

were at the bottom of the social pyramid and rulers, priests and the wealthy were at the top.

The wealthier you were

the closer to the ziggurat you lived

The job of priests were to

control irrigation

settle arguments

store and distribute surplus

collect taxes in the form of goods

make sacrifices and pray to the unpredictable gods of Mesopotamia

Sumerians believed their purpose on Earth was to

serve the gods

The forces of nature and all the evils were under control of the Gods, so

Sumerians offered food and animals to please the gods.