Geography of Mesopotamia

Mesopotamia is not a country today Mesopotamia is not a country today. Today it is made up primarily of the country known as Iraq. Ancient Mesopotamia was located between the Tigris and Euphrates River. Mesopotamia

Fertile Crescent is a region in western Asia which is crescent shaped and looks like a crescent moon

It covers present day countries of Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, and Israel. Fertile Crescent

Tigris and Euphrates Rivers Mesopotamia is known as land between two rivers. This is the land between the Tigris and Euphrates River. The Tigris River ran along the northern border of Mesopotamia and the Euphrates River ran along the southern border of Mesopotamia. Tigris and Euphrates Rivers

Soil and Silt The land of Mesopotamia was mountainous and rocky. Only fertile soil was along each river. When the rivers would flood, they would leave a residue called silt. Silt was very fertile and helped crops grow. Soil and Silt

The growing season depended on when the flooding season occurred. Floods were unpredictable and often did not come during planting season. They often came when the crops were ready to be harvested. Flooding

Farmers protected their crops by creating irrigation canals and artificial lakes. Irrigation Methods

Farmers grew barley, wheat, beans, onions, lettuce, cucumbers, spice plants, date, palm, apple, and pomegranate trees. Crops

Sheep were raised for milk and wool Sheep were raised for milk and wool. Cattle were raised for milk, leather, meat, and work animals. Sheep and cattle lived in the north on an unfertile plateau. Sheep and Cattle