Name three disadvantages of Sumer's natural environment.

1. Unpredictable Floods: The rivers on which the Sumerian civilization relied could often swell unpredictably and cause tremendous floods that could destroy or disrupt their settlements, cultivations and water supplies. 2. Soil Erosion: The Sumerians mostly practiced subsistence farming, which is highly labor-intensive and can cause soil erosion over time. This type of erosion could quickly lead to depletion of soil fertility and exhaustion of land resources, disrupting long-term food production and leading to famine. 3. Poor Water Quality: Sumer’s rivers had poor water quality due to the presence of many pollutants caused by human activity, including industrial waste and sewage contaminants. This led to high rates of water-borne illnesses and low crop yields.