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An overview of the 'Land Between Two Rivers' and the people who lived there called the Sumerians.
Imagine living in a place where the ground is so dry it cracks, but every year, two giant rivers overflow to turn the desert into a lush green garden. How did people years ago turn this wild land into the world's first cities?
Long ago, in a part of the world we now call the Middle East, a great civilization began. The name Mesopotamia actually means "the land between the rivers" in the Greek language. Those two very important rivers are the Tigris and the Euphrates. These rivers were like giant water pipes for the ancient world, providing fresh water in a land that was mostly a hot, dry desert. Without these two rivers, the amazing story of human history might never have started!
Quick Check
What does the word 'Mesopotamia' mean?
Answer
It means 'the land between the rivers.'
If you looked at a map of this area, you would see a green, moon-shaped region called the Fertile Crescent. The word fertile means the land is excellent for growing plants. Every year, the rivers would flood, leaving behind a thick, gooey layer of rich soil called silt. This silt was like vitamins for the ground! Because the soil was so rich, farmers could grow more food than they needed. This extra food meant that not everyone had to be a farmer anymore.
Let's look at how silt helped a farmer: 1. The river floods in the spring. 2. The water goes away, leaving inch of dark, rich silt on the field. 3. The farmer plants seeds. 4. Because of the silt, out of seeds grow into healthy plants instead of just !
Quick Check
What was the name of the rich soil left behind by the river floods?
Answer
Silt
The first group of people to live in southern Mesopotamia were called the Sumerians. Because they had so much food from their fertile land, they stopped moving around and started building permanent homes. They used mud bricks to build the world's first cities. To keep their crops watered all year, they invented irrigation. This is a system of digging man-made canals (like small rivers) to lead water from the big rivers directly to their thirsty fields.
Imagine a Sumerian village located yards away from the river. 1. During the dry summer, the plants start to wilt. 2. The Sumerians dig a long trench (a canal) from the river to the village. 3. The water flows down the canal using gravity. 4. The farmers open small gates to let the water into different fields as needed.
How does a farm become a city? 1. Better farming leads to a surplus (extra) of food. 2. The population grows from people to people. 3. People start having different jobs, like builders, weavers, or priests. 4. They build a wall around their houses for protection, creating a city-state.
Which two rivers surround Mesopotamia?
What is the name of the moon-shaped region known for its rich soil?
The Sumerians were a wandering group of people who never built permanent homes.
Review Tomorrow
Tomorrow morning, try to remember the names of the two rivers that start with the letters 'T' and 'E'.
Practice Activity
Draw a picture of a Sumerian farm. Include a river, a canal (irrigation), and a field of crops growing in dark silt!