Where in the world is Mesopotamia? What does Mesopotamia mean? Why are river valley’s so good for farming? What does fertile and infertile mean? Why is Mesopotamia important to the growth of humans? How did farming effect the population of Mesopotamia?

Water is heavy and Powerful!!! So how could rivers be controlled?

Bringing water from where we have it to where we need it! How can this be done?

First – Large holes called “Basins” are dug to store water overflow. Next – Man-made waterways called “Canals” are dug to carry water from where we have it to where it is needed. Last – Smaller ditches are dug to bring the water from the canals to the crops.

By 2500 BC an elaborate canal system linked the major cities of Mesopotamia, as well as supplying water for farming. A map inscribed on a clay tablet at Nippur, c BC shows this layout.

With water secured, Mesopotamians grew more food than they needed, called a surplus. With food secured, population grew to the point that towns were too small and the first cities developed. Not as many people needed to be farmers which lead to a division of labor. This means people could do other jobs like craftsmen, religious leaders and government workers. With more people available, society could accomplish more.

Society accomplishes more through carrying out large projects. With large projects there was a need for leaders, structure and rules on how people should act and perform. These early rules would become the first laws.