Download Chapter 2/Lesson 1 - White Plains Public Schools

Chapter 2/Lesson 1
Chapter Outline O.W.
Name___________________________
Date ________________Per._______
Geography of the
Fertile Crescent
Essential Question:
How did two great rivers affect
life in the Fertile Crescent?
Directions: Read pages 54-57 in your social studies textbook. Answer the
following questions in complete sentences where appropriate.
THE LAND BETWEEN TWO RIVERS P. 55
1. Define Fertile Crescent: _________________________________________
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2. What does the word Mesopotamia mean? _____________________________
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3. Where do the Tigris and Euphrates rivers begin? Where do they flow?
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4. What is silt? How is silt helpful to farmers?
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5. Define drought: ________________________________________________
6. How were northern and southern Mesopotamia different?
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7. Text Structure/Features: Review the entire section “Downhill to the Sea” on p.
55. Pay special attention to the right-hand column, 2nd paragraph. How do the
textbook authors share information about Northern and Southern Mesopotamia?
Circle one: Sequence, Compare & Contrast or Problem & Solution
How do you know this? What signal words does the text use?
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EXPLORING TECHNOLOGY BOX P. 55
7. Define levees: ________________________________________________
8. Define irrigation: ______________________________________________
9. Why did farmers in Mesopotamia create systems of levees and canals?
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10. Look at the map on p. 55. What mountain ranges lie east and west of the
Fertile Crescent? _______________________________________________
11. Look at the map on p. 55. Where along these rivers do you think flooding might
be heaviest? ____________________________________________________
SUCCESSFUL FARMERS P. 56-57
12. True or False- Mesopotamian farmers grew wheat and barley, the regions most
important crops.
13. List other types of crops farmers would grow.
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14. True or False- Mesopotamians would cut down trees and use it for buildings or
firewood.
15. Define erosion: _______________________________________________
16. True or False- Much of modern Mesopotamia is desert due to erosion.
17. How did Mesopotamians alter (change) their region?
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18. Look at the diagram skill box on p.56. What did the levee do?
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19. Look at the diagram skill box on p.56. What was the purpose of the artificial
lake? _________________________________________________________
20. Look at the diagram skill box on p.56. How was water channeled to the fields?
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21. Look at the diagram skill box on p.56. Why did farmers plant trees along the
banks of the river?
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Putting It Together… p. 57
Claim: Improvements in agriculture help build the civilization of
Mesopotamia.
Find and write down 3 or more details that support this claim. Use pages 55-57 to
help you.
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