(Geography)

Located in western Asia Present- day countries of: Iraq, Syria,

Lebanon, and Israel This land is in the shape of a crescent

Called “Fertile Crescent” Much of the land was either rocky

mountains or desert Part of the land was lush and green

Two rivers: Tigris Euphrates Made life in these areas possible

The region between the 2 rives is known as Mesopotamia (“Land Between Two Rivers”)

Both the Tigris and Euphrates rivers begin in the snow- capped Taurus Mountains (located in Turkey)

The two rivers empties out into the Persian Gulf

Mesopotamia depended on river deposits of silt Silt makes the region a good place for

farming Early Years- flooding did not take place

during planting season Floods would burst through fields just as

crops were about to be harvested Floods cost not only crops, but lives and homes as

well

SOUTHERN NORTHERN

Droughts- long periods of dry weather Constant threat

to farming in the south

More silt

Rocky land, only pockets of fertile land

Not much silt

Fall- Tigris and Euphrates were at their lowest (No Flooding)Farmers needed water to plant crops

Spring- harvest timeRives flooded- farmers often got more

water than they wanted Problem solved- farmers learned to

build water- control and irrigation systems

Farmers grew- wheat and barley (most important crop)BeansOnionsLettuceCucumbersApple and pomegranate trees

Farmers other planted along the canal banks

Shepherds cared for sheep and goatWard off attacks from lions and

jackals Sheep were important for their

milk and wool Mesopotamians valued cattle