Download `Mesopotamia: Geography of the Fertile Crescent: The Big Picture

‘Mesopotamia:
Geography of the Fertile Crescent:
A. The Big Picture:
1. The Fertile Crescent is a region in western Asia that is shaped like a crescent. It
resembles a crescent shape like a quarter moon.
2. The Fertile Crescent covers present day countries of Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and
Israel.
3. Much of this land was either rocky mountains or desert. Parts of the Fertile
Crescent however were lush and green.
4. Two rivers, the Tigris and Euphrates made life in these areas possible. These
rivers affected the people living along the banks.
B. Between Two Rivers:
1. The region between the Tigris and Euphrates is known as Mesopotamia. In
Greek it means Land between two rivers.
2. This area today is known as Iraq.
3. Both the Tigris and Euphrates rivers begin in the snow- capped Taurus
mountains of what is today Turkey.
4. The rivers rush down narrow canyons to valleys below. Then the Tigris and
Euphrates reach a plateau of present day northern Iraq.
5. In Southern Iraq the rivers continue to flow to lower land. Here they make their
way to the Persian Gulf.
*** Look at your map
C. Floods:
1. Early communities in Mesopotamia depended on river deposits of silt. Silt made
the region a good place for farming.
2. The Tigris and Euphrates did not flood during planting season , when dry fields
needed to softened and prepared for new growth. They flooded as crops were
about to be harvested. Such deadly floods cost not only crops, but lives and
homes as well.
3. Farmers had to protect their fields from flood damage. They also had to keep
crops watered in the hot dry climate.
4. Southern Mesopotamia rarely received more than a few sprinkles of rain each
year. Droughts or long periods of dry weather were a constant threat to
farmers and their crops in this area.
5. Northern Mesopotamia usually had enough rain to make some farming possible.
But there were only pockets of good farming soil.
6. The flooding rivers did not leave behind as much silt here in the north as to the
south.
7. Southern Mesopotamia became known for its fertile fields and not Northern
Mesopotamia.
D. From River to Field:
1.Fall was the time when the rivers were at their lowest. Spring was harvest time in
ancient Mesopotamia. However, it was also the time when the rivers flooded their banks
and the farmers got more water than they wanted.
2. To solve this, ancient farmers learned to build water-control and irrigation systems.
* see picture.
3. The most important crops were wheat and barley.
4.They also planted beans, onions, lettuce, cucumbers and spice plants.
5. Ancient farmers also grew date palm, apple and pomegranate trees
6.Because the crops and trees needed plenty of water, Mesopotamia farmers often
planted them along canal banks.
7.In the village farmland, shepherds cared for sheep and goats. Shepherds also ward
off attacks from wild animals such as lions and jackals.
8.Sheep were especially prized in Mesopotamia for their milk and wool.
9. Ancient Mesopotamians also valued cattle. Cattle were good work animals, besides
being used for milk, leather and meat.
Review questions:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Why was Mesopotamia called an Early civilization?
What two things did the rivers provide for the farmers?
Early farmers used the rivers to make the ______________ more fertile?
Why did the farmers produce surplus crops?
The floods brought what two things to the area of Mesopotamia?
What did the farmers use to control dangerous flooding?
Why was the timing of the floods so important to the farmers?
How did the farmers adapt to their environment?