The Fertile Crescent:The Fertile Crescent: The Land Between Two RiversThe Land Between Two Rivers

Coach ParrishCoach Parrish

Chapter 2, Section 1Chapter 2, Section 1

Oxford Middle SchoolOxford Middle School

A Sumerian StudentA Sumerian Student

““My headmaster read my tablet and My headmaster read my tablet and said, ‘There is something missing,’ said, ‘There is something missing,’ and hit me with a cane…The fellow in and hit me with a cane…The fellow in charge of silence said, ‘Why did you charge of silence said, ‘Why did you talk without permission?’ and caned talk without permission?’ and caned me.”me.”

What does this say about the earliest What does this say about the earliest schools?schools?

The First SchoolsThe First Schools

The first schools were set up in The first schools were set up in Sumer over 4000 years ago. They Sumer over 4000 years ago. They taught boys and some girls how to taught boys and some girls how to write.write.

Graduates of the school became Graduates of the school became scribesscribes – professional writers. – professional writers.

Scribes kept records for priests and Scribes kept records for priests and kings. kings.

Tablet used by scribesTablet used by scribes

The Geographic SettingThe Geographic Setting

Sumer was located in a region called Sumer was located in a region called Mesopotamia.Mesopotamia.

Mesopotamia had rich soil, and life-Mesopotamia had rich soil, and life-giving rivers.giving rivers.

Because of trade, Sumer became one Because of trade, Sumer became one of the most prosperous areas of the of the most prosperous areas of the world. world.

Where was Mesopotamia?Where was Mesopotamia?

Mesopotamia comes from the Greek Mesopotamia comes from the Greek words that mean “between the words that mean “between the rivers.”rivers.”

It is located between two rivers:It is located between two rivers:

1.1. Tigris RiverTigris River

2.2. Euphrates RiverEuphrates River

MesopotamiaMesopotamia

Fertile CrescentFertile Crescent

Fertile CrescentFertile Crescent – region in – region in Southwest Asia that was the site of Southwest Asia that was the site of the world’s first civilization.the world’s first civilization.

The region is shaped like a crescent The region is shaped like a crescent moon. The rivers around the area moon. The rivers around the area make it a great location for farming.make it a great location for farming.

Fertile CrescentFertile Crescent

Rivers of LifeRivers of Life

In the spring, topsoil is picked up in In the spring, topsoil is picked up in melting snow as it rushes down from melting snow as it rushes down from the mountains and floods the land. the mountains and floods the land.

Farmers used the topsoil to plant Farmers used the topsoil to plant their crops.their crops.

The Tigris and Euphrates’ Rivers also The Tigris and Euphrates’ Rivers also supplied fish, clay for building, and supplied fish, clay for building, and reeds for ship building.reeds for ship building.

Rivers of DeathRivers of Death

The floodwaters sometimes came at The floodwaters sometimes came at unexpected times.unexpected times.

When this happened, the floodwater When this happened, the floodwater would sweep away people, animals, would sweep away people, animals, crops and even houses.crops and even houses.

The First CitiesThe First Cities

Although cities in Mesopotamia Although cities in Mesopotamia shared a common culture and shared a common culture and language, they didn’t unite under a language, they didn’t unite under a single ruler. single ruler.

Instead they became Instead they became city-statescity-states – – city that is also a separate, city that is also a separate, independent state.independent state.

Sumerian ReligionSumerian Religion

Sumerian temples were called Sumerian temples were called Ziggurats. Ziggurats.

Ziggurats were pyramids made of Ziggurats were pyramids made of terraces. Each terrace was linked by terraces. Each terrace was linked by stairs. stairs.

At the top was a shrine where At the top was a shrine where Sumerians believed that their gods Sumerians believed that their gods came down from.came down from.

Sumerian Ziggurat Sumerian Ziggurat

Ancient Religious BeliefsAncient Religious Beliefs

Sumerians were Sumerians were polytheisticpolytheistic – belief – belief in many gods.in many gods.

Sumerians also believed in Sumerians also believed in mythsmyths – – stories about gods that explain stories about gods that explain people’s beliefs.people’s beliefs.

Punishments and rewards were used Punishments and rewards were used in Sumerian religion.in Sumerian religion.

The Fall of SumerThe Fall of Sumer

Sumer eventually fell because of Sumer eventually fell because of greed. The city-states were fighting greed. The city-states were fighting over land and the use of the rivers. over land and the use of the rivers. Then, around 2300 BC, Sumer was Then, around 2300 BC, Sumer was conquered by Akkadian armies. It conquered by Akkadian armies. It was later taken over by the was later taken over by the Babylonians, around 1700 BC.Babylonians, around 1700 BC.