1. The Early Fertile Crescent

2. Mesopotamia - Before History Began
In Prehistoric times (before recorded history), small bands of people roamed the hills near the fertile crescent
Over 10,000 years ago, some people began to tame animals and grow crops

3. Mesopotamia - Before History Began
7,000 years ago, people started to build towns
Populations increased
Soon, people needed to find more land

4. Land Between Two Rivers
They found a fertile plain bordered by two rivers:
The Tigris
The Euphrates
Both start in the mountains of Turkey
The Euphrates river is longer, but the Tigris river is bigger
Both rivers were used for transportation, fishing, and irrigation

5. Land Between Two Rivers
The area has become known as “The Fertile Crescent”
The name “Mesopotamia” comes from words meaning “middle” and “river”

6. Water Without Rain
There was hardly any rain, which made growing crops a significant problem.
There was, however, plenty of water in the rivers

7. Water Without Rain
People learned to dig ditches and canals to make water flow into fields, making it possible to grow food in previously dry areas.
This was one of the first uses of irrigation in the world.
Additionally, every year, floods on the Tigris and Euphrates rivers brought silt, a mixture of rich soil and tiny rocks, to the land. The combination of fertile silt, plenty of sunshine, and irrigation water made the land ideal for farming.

8. Water Without Rain
These improvements in farming meant that there was a surplus in food. Populations increased. People had time to learn new skills such as making pottery.
Pottery was made for:
Carrying water
Storing seed
Preparing food

9. The Sumerian Diet Mesopotamians ate a lot of barley.
Barley seeds were ground into flour.
Olive oil was also used.

10. The Sumerian Diet Farmers also grew: Grapes Peas Garlic Beans Lettuce
Apples

11. The Sumerian Diet
There were pigs, chickens, cows, and other animals, but they ate very little meat. Why do you think this was the case?
People also ate fish.
Without refrigerators, meat had to be dried, salted, or pickled to preserve it.

12. The Sumerian Diet Most middle and lower class people ate simple meals.
Beer was a favorite drink.