The Land of Two Rivers

WHAT CLIMATE PROBLEMS DID THE ANCIENT SUMERIANS FACE ?

• Blazing hot sun
• Little rain
• Heavy floods/unpredictable
• Parched dry land

WHAT WAS THERE SOLUTION?

• Built dams, canals, Gates
• Made artificial lakes & ponds for further use
• Made an irrigation system

How did the solution affect the development of Sumerian civilization in the following categories ?

HAVING IRRIGATION SYSTEMS > GAVE SURPLUS TO THE FARMERS >ALLOWED TO LESS PEOPLE TO WORK AT FARMING >FREED UP PEOPLE TIME TO LIVE IN CITIES

NEW JOBS

• Priest
• Pottery
• Canal Builder
• Brick Builders

GREAT TEMPLES WERE BUILT TO PLEASE THE GODS AND STORE SURPLUS GRAIN

TRADE FARMING PRODUCTS FOR

• Musical instruments
• Glittery Jewelry
• Colorful fabrics
• Stone
• Wood
• Metal
• Clay Pottery
• Stone Hoes

HOW DID THE DEVELOPMENT OF SUMERIAN CIVILIZATION CONTRIBUTE TO NEW IDEAS

KEEPING RECORDS

• To many business deals to keep in memory
• Created a clay container/bulla
• Clay tokens in different shapes (each shape showed a trade)
• Bulla was sealed & put tally marks on outside

Plow- Breaks through hard clay soil

Sailboat - to help transport trade

Wheel- Used wheel to travel over land

Mixed metals- used to make strong tools and weapons

Work sited

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