Transcript MESOPOTAMIA is a part of an area called the FERTILE CRESCENT

MESOPOTAMIA is a part of an area called the FERTILE
CRESCENT b/c of its rich soil & curved shape
• Mesopotamia (Greek for land between two rivers) is an area that lies
between the Tigris & Euphrates Rivers
• Both rivers start in mountains of Turkey & flow SE through Iraq where they
meet up before emptying out into the Persian Gulf
• Rain/melting snow swell rivers & cause them to overflow onto the flat land
bordering rivers – this deposits silt, making land extremely fertile_
• Unlike the Nile, floods of the 2 rivers were unpredictable
• Farmers didn't know when to plant or how big each flood would be
• The area receives little rainfall & as a result, drought was common - lack of
rain lowered river levels & made irrigation more difficult
• Nevertheless, settlements formed in Mesopotamia in approx. 7000 BCE
• Farmers grew wheat/other grains - food surplus led to population growth
• Mesopotamia is considered the world’s 1st civilization (before Ancient Egypt,
India & China) and is referred to as the cradle of civilization
• Mesopotamia has few natural barriers so it was easy to invade
• Foreigners like the Egyptians often stole from/conquered the area
Most of Mesopotamia is located in what is now the country of _____________