1. Chapter 3

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

3. 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.

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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.

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

8. 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

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

10. 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.

11. 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

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