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Explore the land between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, known as Mesopotamia, and its significance in the rise of civilization. Discover how early farming settlements developed into the world's first cities and the challenges they faced, including controlling water through irrigation and creating food surpluses.
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3.1 Notes Geography of the Fertile Crescent
Land Between Two Rivers • People settled where crops would grow. • In Southwest Asia, the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers formed a region known as Mesopotamia.
Land Between Two Rivers • In Greek, Mesopotamia means “between the rivers”. • Mesopotamia is part of the larger area called the Fertile Crescent.
Rise of Civilization • Hunter-gatherer groups settled in Mesopotamia more than 12,000 years. • Every year, the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers brought silt which made the land ideal for farming.
Rise of Civilization • The first farm settlements formed in Mesopotamia as early as 7,000BC. • Plentiful food led to population growth and villages formed. These early villages developed into the world’s first civilization.
Farming and Cities • Although Mesopotamia had fertile soil, farming wasn’t easy. • Its water level depended on rains from the in Asia Minor. • When great amounts of rain fell, flooding destroyed crops, livestock, and homes.
Controlling Water • To solve their water issues, Mesopotamians used irrigation. • They dug canals which connected to a network of ditches. • They also built up river banks to control the flood waters.
Food Surpluses • Irrigation increased the amount of food farmers were able to grow and create a food surplus. • Food surpluses meant that not everyone had to farm leading to division of labor. This also meant that people were available to work on large projects. • Eventually, settlements would grow into cities.
