Chapter 18

Today in history, students are exploring Susan Wise Bauer’s Chapter 18: “The First Environmental Disaster” to understand how human progress can lead to collapse. We’ll compare the fall of ancient Sumer to the Dust Bowl of 1930s America—two moments in history when people’s efforts to improve life ended up damaging the land they depended on. Through discussion, visuals, and a group simulation called “When the Land Fails, the City Falls,” students will see how the misuse of natural resources affected every part of civilization—from farming and trade to leadership and faith. Our central question guiding the lesson is: How did human progress become the cause of Sumer’s downfall?