Survey_of_world_history_wgu_task_1.docx Key Geographical Features Religious Beliefs

Survey_of_world_history_wgu_task_1.docx    Key Geographical Features  Religious Beliefs   Political Structures   Social and/or Cultural Characteristics  Mesopotamia  It lays just south of the Persian Gulf. Located between the Tigris and the Euphrates Rivers. Mesopotamia comes from two words in the Greek language. Meso meaning middle and potomia meaning river. This area has been called the fertile crescent. It was named that because it had a large concentration of silt deposit that came from the runoff from the nearby mountains. These rivers were very unpredictable for flooding. The silt was rich in nutrient sediment. This helped grow and produce an an excessive amount of food. the grew wheat and barley. Due to the weather being unpredictable, flooding, and climate change it, causing a major problem that leads to the decline of agriculture.   Mesopotamia there were mostly polytheistic. This meant they worshipped many gods. Each city-state believed in their own leading god.  They built ziggurats temples for these gods. Temples hosted tributary ceremonies, festivals, and sacrifices to please the gods.  Sumerian: Bekvied in Anus the god of heaven, Enil god of air, Enik go of water, and Ninhursag god of the mother goddess.  Babylonians & Assyrians  Believed that Marduk & Assur are the kings of gods. Shamash the fun of god, Sin is the moon god, and Ishtar goddess of love and war.  Ziggurats were built as a temple to these gods. The temples were located in the center of the cities and could only be accessed by the Priests.