Chapter 3

Rivers Support the Growth of Civilization Early people settled where crops would grow Usually near rivers One region Southwest Asia – lay between two rivers

Land Between Two Rivers Mesopotamia means “between the rivers” in Greek. Mesopotamia is part of a larger area of rich farmland called the Fertile Crescent.

Land Between Two Rivers Continued Mesopotamia lies between the Asia Minor and the Persian Gulf Two land features gave Mesopotamia its name Tigris River and the Euphrates River

The Rise of Civilization Annual floods on the Tigris and Euphrates rivers brought silt - a mixture of rich soil and tiny rocks that made the land ideal for farming. Farmers grew wheat barley, and other types of grain

The Rise of Civilization Continued Livestock, birds, and fish – good sources of food. Plentiful food led to population growth and the formation of villages. Villages later developed into the world’s first civilizations.

Farming and Cities Mesopotamia – fertile soil – but not easy because of lack of rainfall

Controlling Water Solve the water problems Irrigation – a way of supplying water to an area of land – to irrigate – dug out large storage basins to hold water supply – dug canals – human made waterways that connected these basins to a network of ditches – ditches brought water to the fields

Controlling Water Continued To protect the fields from flooding – farmers built up the banks of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers

Food Surpluses Irrigation increased the amount of food Farmers could produce a food surplus – or more than they needed Irrigation made farmers more productive so fewer people needed to farm.

Food Surpluses Continued People could be crafters, religious leaders, and government workers. Type of arrangement in which each worker specializes in a particular task or job is called division of labor

The Appearance of Cities Mesopotamian settlements grew in size and complexity Mesopotamia – based in agriculture Cities – political, religious, cultural, and economic centers of civilization