Mesopotamia

As you have learned in your readings, Mesopotamia is located in what is present-day Iraq. Read the map below. Notice the legend shows that the area in green is called the Fertile Crescent. "Fertile" means that something can grow a lot of plants, fruits and vegetation. "Crescent" means that it has an arc shape. This area is called the Fertile Crescent because the soil is moist as a result of the yearly flooding of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. This flooding deposits minerals into the soil, which helps plants grow strong, healthy and in large amounts. This helps farmers to produce all sorts of grains, fruits and vegetables. Also in this region, animals (cows, pigs, goats and sheep) first became domesticated, which means they were kept in farms and bred for food. Farming and the domestication of animals changed the way humans lived in a huge way... this change is called the Agricultural Revolution.


Answer the following questions thoughtfully: In what ways do you think farming and the domestication of animals revolutionized (changed) the way humans lived compared to prehistoric times? Think about how human's lifestyles changed and how they got their food. Why do you think the Mesopotamian civilization began between two rivers (the Tigris and Euphrates)? Was this a coincidence or is there more to it?