Topic Sentence: Topic Sentence: Irrigation, the Irrigation, the wheel, the plow, and the wheel, the plow, and the domestication of animals domestication of animals helped the growth of helped the growth of Mesopotamian civilization.Mesopotamian civilization.

Main Point #1: Main Point #1: First, irrigation First, irrigation helped the growth of helped the growth of Mesopotamian civilization.Mesopotamian civilization.

Evidence and Explanation: Evidence and Explanation: Because it was between two Because it was between two rivers, Mesopotamia used rivers, Mesopotamia used irrigation to grow crops.irrigation to grow crops.

Evidence and Explanation: Evidence and Explanation: By By growing more crops, growing more crops, Mesopotamia fed its own Mesopotamia fed its own people and created a surplus people and created a surplus for trade.for trade.

Main Point #2: Main Point #2: Seond, the Seond, the wheel helped the growth of wheel helped the growth of Mesopotamian civilization.Mesopotamian civilization.

Evidence and Explanation: Evidence and Explanation: The The wheel was invented in Sumer, wheel was invented in Sumer, a society in Ancient a society in Ancient Mesopotamia.Mesopotamia.

Evidence and Explanation: Evidence and Explanation: The The wheel was used for chariots, wheel was used for chariots, which made Sumer’s military which made Sumer’s military stronger.stronger.

Evidence and Explanation: Evidence and Explanation: The The wheel was used for pulling wheel was used for pulling plows, which made the land plows, which made the land more fertile.more fertile.

Main Point #3: Main Point #3: Third, the plow Third, the plow helped the growth of helped the growth of Mesopotamian civilization.Mesopotamian civilization.

Evidence and Explanation: Evidence and Explanation: The The plow was invented in plow was invented in Mesopotamia.Mesopotamia.

Evidence and Explanation: Evidence and Explanation: The The plow turned over dirt as it was plow turned over dirt as it was dragged over land.dragged over land.

Evidence and Explanation: Evidence and Explanation: By By turning over dirt the plow turning over dirt the plow made the land more fertile, made the land more fertile, which helped to feed the which helped to feed the population of Mesopotamia population of Mesopotamia and create a surplus.and create a surplus.

Main Point #4: Main Point #4: Fourth, the Fourth, the domestication of animals domestication of animals helped the growth of helped the growth of Mesopotamian civilization.Mesopotamian civilization.

Evidence and Explanation: Evidence and Explanation: Oxen were first domesticated Oxen were first domesticated in Mesopotamia.in Mesopotamia.

Evidence and Explanation: Evidence and Explanation: Oxen pulled heavier plows Oxen pulled heavier plows than humans.than humans.

Evidence and Explanation: Evidence and Explanation: Oxen pulled plows more Oxen pulled plows more quickly than humans.quickly than humans.

Evidence and Explanation: Evidence and Explanation: By By domesticating oxen to pull domesticating oxen to pull plows, Mesopotamia grew plows, Mesopotamia grew more food.more food.

Conclusion: Conclusion: In conclusion, In conclusion, irrigation, the wheel, the plow, irrigation, the wheel, the plow, and the domestication of and the domestication of animals helped the growth of animals helped the growth of Mesopotamian civilization by Mesopotamian civilization by making the area more fertile.making the area more fertile.

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