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Summary Lesson 1 Module 3

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4 views

Summary Lesson 1 Module 3

Uploaded by

victorgborjag
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Lesson 1 Geograpphy of the Fertile Crescent

The Big Idea


The valleys of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers were the site of the
world’s first civilizations.

Main Ideas
• The rivers of Southwest Asia supported the growth of civilizations.
• New farming techniques led to the growth of cities.

Main Idea 1

The rivers of Southwest Asia supported the growth of civilizations.


Land Between Two Rivers
• The Tigris and Euphrates rivers are the most important physical
features of the region known as Mesopotamia.
• Mesopotamia means “between the rivers” in Greek.
• Mesopotamia is part of a larger area of rich farmland called the
Fertile Crescent.
• Mesopotamia was divided into two regions in ancient times:
northern and southern Mesopotamia.
Main Idea 1

Rise of Civilizations
• Annual floods on the Tigris and Euphrates rivers brought silt
that made the land ideal for farming.
– Silt is a mixture of rich soil and tiny rocks.
• Plentiful food led to population growth and the formation of
villages.
• Villages later developed into the world’s first civilizations.
• A civilization is an organized society within a specific area.
• Features of civilizations include writing, formal education, art,
architecture, and government.
Main Idea 2

New farming techniques led to the growth of cities.


• The water levels of the Tigris and Euphrates would rise or fall,
depending on the amount of rainfall.

Controlling Water
• Farmers used irrigation and canals as a way to control river
flow.
• Irrigation supplied water to farmland from the rivers by taking
water through canals and ditches to fields.
• Irrigation increased the amount of food farmers produced.
• Increased amounts of food led to surpluses, or having more
than was needed.

A More Productive Society


• Surpluses meant that fewer people needed to farm, new
occupations developed.
• Fewer people needed to farm, so they took on other roles and
jobs.
• When workers specialize in a particular task, a division of
labor is created.
• Large projects were undertaken, which led to the need for
structure and rules.

The Appearance of Cities


• Settlements grew in size, creating cities between 4000 and
3000 BC.

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