1. The Geography of Mesopotamia
The land between two rivers

2. How did the land between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers support agriculture?
The rivers begin in the mountains that lay to the northwest and then flow to the southeast.
Every year, rain and snow melting in the mountains cause the rivers to swell and pick up soil.
When the flooded rivers reach flatter land called plains, they overflow onto the floodplain.

3. The rivers deposit the rich soil, called silt, onto the plains
The rivers deposit the rich soil, called silt, onto the plains. Once flooding is over, the silt stays behind.
The fertile soil is excellent for growing crops.
However, Mesopotamia was in a semi-arid region. There was little rainfall, and summers were brutally hot. The rivers provided the main source of water and soil to grow crops.

4. The yearly flood was extremely unpredictable
It depended on how much snow fell in the mountains and how much rain came in the spring
It could come early in April or as late as June
If there was too much water, everything washed away
If there was too little water, there was no flood and no new soil for crops
Droughts were common

5. How did farmers cope with an unpredictable water supply?
Turn to your partner and spend two minutes problem solving this issue
Remember that farmers have tools and a river at their disposal
If you already know, share your answer with your partner and explain how it worked

6. IRRIGATION

7. How did the Mesopotamians cope with a lack of resources?
Mesopotamia had rich soil and big rivers but because of the climate, there were no forests, very few minerals and little stone to make tools.
This was why they build mud and reed houses.
They used the crop surpluses to trade with other people from other regions
These trade networks meant they could access resources they did not naturally have

8. Closing questions: Think- Pair- Share
How did the geography of Mesopotamia contribute to the growth of towns and cities?
How did the geography of Mesopotamia contribute to the need for people to organize into a structured society where people specialized in certain jobs?