What on Earth is the Fertile Crescent?

*Today: Iraq, Syria, Jordan Lebanon, Israel, some

of Turkey & Iran!

* Fertile Crescent has first civilizations!

* FC is horseshoe/crescent shaped area of good

farmland along Tigris & Euphrates Rivers (e Turkey to Persian Gulf). FC stretches from W

Mediterranean Sea to Perisan Gulf

* This is known as Mesopotamia, (land btw 2 rivers)

What is the geography like?

*Floods yearly, leaving thick silt(mud). Very Fertile

*Flooding unpredictable

*Desert region

*No barriers for protection

The Sumerians settled around 3300 BC in an area wth good soil,

few resources, flooding & no protection. What solutions did they

come up with?

Fertile Crescent

Let’s think! Look at the maps. Why are the cities near rivers? What impact did rivers have on forming civilizations? Explain why!

What is a ZIGGURAT? How did it affect the lives Sumerians?

What is a Dynasty?

Describe City States:

See your

coloring book!!!!!