Download Egyptian Geography

MESOPOTAMIAN
GEOGRAPHY
Cradle of Civilization
Location
 Ancient Mesopotamia lay in what we know
today as Iraq, northeast Syria and part of
south east Turkey.
 The name comes from the Greeks
 Meso: meaning middle
 Potamos: meaning river
 Thus Mesopotamia literally means “land
between the rivers”.
 Specifically the Tigris and Euphrates
Tigris River
Euphrates River
The Fertile Crescent
Mesopotamia was part of an area known
as the “Fertile Crescent” which stretched
in an arc from the Persian Gulf through
northeast Syria to the Mediterranean Sea.
It was the site of the world’s first
permanent farming villages
Egyptian Geography
The Nile River
• Early Egyptians lived along the banks of the Nile.
• It was a source of life.
• It supplied them with food, fish, & water.
• It was also used for
the transportation of
goods & people.
• The Nile is the
worlds longest river
(7000 km in length) .
• It flows northward to
the Mediterranean
Sea.
• Just before the Sea the Nile splits into branches,
forming a fan shaped delta.
• In the late spring & summer the Nile gets more volume
from tropical rains (central Africa), & melting snow
(Ethiopian mountains) causing it to flood.
• This annual predictable flooding is
called the Inundation.
• In fall when the waters recede a thick deposit of dark soil
is left on nearby fields.
• This soil (Black Land) is perfect for farming.
• There were 3 main seasons: flood season,
growing season, & dry season.
• Their calendar of 365 days was based on these
cycles..
• In dry season the Egyptians learned to irrigate using a shaduf.
• Beyond the fertile areas is the Red
Land.
• It contains Western Desert (Libyan)
and the Eastern Desert (Arabian).
• 1) Lower Egypt
containing the Nile Delta
is in the north.
• This is where papyrus was harvested, then used to make
paper, sandals, rope, etc.
• This area also opened on the Mediterranean sea & trade.
• 2) Upper Egypt
containing the Nile Valley
is in the south.
• Its ancient cliffs border the desert on both sides &
cataracts protected Egyptians from foreign invasion.
Characteristics of
civilization
 Natural Resources: Civilizations emerge
in regions able to support growing
populations. Fertile soil and a regular
source of water are needed to support
larger communities.
 According to our list of characteristics,
both Egypt and Mesopotamia meet this
first criteria of a civilization.