Geography of the Fertile Crescent Where is Mesopotamia? Mesopotamia is known as the land between the rivers Is located between Asia Minor, in the North, and the Persian Gulf in the south. The area is known as the Fertile Crescent it extends from the Mediterranean sea to the Persian Gulf. The 2 rivers surrounding Mesopotamia are the Tigris and Euphrates. Why do Rivers Support the Growth of Civilizations? Early people settle where crops grow. Crops grow where water is accessible, it makes the soil rich and fertile. How did the Civilization of Mesopotamia grow? Early humans settled in Southwest Mesopotamia more than 12,000 years ago. As humans learned to plant crops they settled in one place. The fertile soil of this region was perfect for this, and as crops developed so did populations. Then villages grew, and eventually this area developed into the worlds first civilization. Why was it important to control the water? This region didnt receive very much rain therefore, when times were dry, crops died. Since the rivers began north in Asia Minor, they relied on the rain from there to flow into the rivers. However, when a lot of rain fell, the rivers flooded. This flooding caused crops to die, killed livestock, and washed away their homes. Early Humans Knew They Needed to do Something!!! How did Early Humans control the Rivers? They developed irrigation systems to control the flow of water to the land. They dug storage basins to store water. Then they dug canals to distribute the water to ditches which finally brought the water to the fields. To prevent the rivers from flooding and destroying the crops, they built up the banks of the rivers. Having these high banks prevented the rivers from overflowing into the fields. What was the result of Irrigation? It increased the amount of crops farmers could grow, creating a surplus. The livestock was well fed, and the people enjoyed a variety of food. Farming became so productive that not everyone needed to farm. Some people began doing other jobs like crafters, religious leaders, and government workers. Why did they need government? Because Since farming became so productive, fewer people needed to farm, so they were now able to do other jobs. Therefore, new occupations developed like crafters, religious leaders, and government workers; division of labor. Now, with people doing different jobs, societies accomplished more. Projects became more specialized and complicated, so now the Mesopotamians needed structure and rules. This could only be provided by establishing laws and government. Cities Emerge As societies grew in size and complexity, cities emerged. Although agriculture was still dominant in Mesopotamia, cities became increasingly important. Cities were the central location for trade, religion, politics, culture, and economics. What do you think these first cities were like? Imagine you are on a boat traveling down the Tigris or Euphrates rivers in ancient Mesopotamia. What might you see along the way. Illustrate some of the sights you would see as you travel down the rivers toward the Persian Gulf. What might these early civilizations look like.