Farming in Mesopotamia

Why did the first cities develop in Mesopotamia? Mesopotamia had two natural resources that made it a good location for early urban or city growth.

The Two Rivers The Tigris and Euphrates Rivers originate high in the Taurus mountains, northwest of Mesopotamia. They flow down the mountains, southward through what is present-day Iraq and into the Persian Gulf.

Fertile Soil The two rivers often flooded and left a layer of silt which enriched the soil and made the land ideal for growing crops.

Working with Water The rivers seldom flooded when farmers first planted their crops, and it hardly ever rained over the land between the rivers, so farmers learned how to tame the two rivers.

Irrigation Farmers built levees to prevent flooding of their fields.

Irrigation Farmers built a series of connected and gated ditches and canals to move the water when and where they wanted it.

Crops Farmers raised barley, wheat, emmer, flax, millet, spices, herbs, fruits, and vegetables.

The Effects of Agriculture The growth of agriculture helped Mesopotamians develop larger populations, a division of labor, stable economy, a working government, and complex social structure.