Studied by 27 people
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.
Note 
Flashcard (29)