Mesopotamia MES - 1

Mesopotamians Before History Began Prehistoric times (before recorded history) – Small bands of people roamed the hills near the fertile crescent

Mesopotamians Before History Began Over 10,000 years ago – some people begin to tame animals and grow crops

Mesopotamians Before History Began 7,000 years ago – people start to build towns More people lived into adulthood

Mesopotamians Before History Began Soon, people needed to find more land They find a fertile plain, bordered by two rivers: The Tigris The Euphrates

World Map

Zooming in on Mesopotamia

Zooming in on Mesopotamia

Land Between Two Rivers The area becomes known as “the Fertile Crescent” The name “Mesopotamia” comes from words meaning “middle” and “river” Meso = middle Potamia = River

Land Between Two Rivers Both rivers begin in the mountains of Turkey

Land Between Two Rivers The Euphrates is longer, but the Tigris is bigger

Land Between Two Rivers Both rivers were used for transportation, fishing, and irrigation

Land Between Two Rivers Because of the rivers, Mesopotamia was a good place to grow crops