Transcript wh21notes

The Fertile Crescent
Section 1: Land Between Two Rivers
The Geographic Setting
Mesopotamia was a region between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers in Southwest Asia. Snowmelt
from the mountains caused floods along the rivers in spring, bringing rich topsoil that benefited
farms, but often bringing great destruction as well.
MapMaster: Mesopotamia
The First Cities
Some of the earliest known cities grew in the region of Sumer, at the southern ends of the Tigris
and Euphrates rivers. Each Sumerian city was a separate state.
1 of 3
The Fertile Crescent
Section 1: Land Between Two Rivers
Sumerian Religion
Sumerian cities were crowned by ziggurats, or temples to the main god or goddess of the city.
Sumerians were polytheistic. They made food offerings to their gods. Although they were
blessed with great wealth, the riches brought warfare between the city-states and also brought
foreign conquerors.
Section Reading Support Transparency
2 of 3
The Fertile Crescent: Section 1
Section Reading Support Transparency
3 of 3