1. Mesopotamia
MES - 1

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

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

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

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

6. World Map

7. Zooming in on Mesopotamia

8. Zooming in on Mesopotamia

9. 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

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

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

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

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