Download presentation
1
Geography of the Fertile Crescent
Unit 2 Chapter 3 Section 1
2
The Geographic Setting of the Fertile Crescent
Mesopotamia had Rich Soil Life giving rivers A location that was a center of trade
3
Why were people attracted to the Fertile Crescent?
4
Why were people attracted to the Fertile Crescent?
Rich Soil.
5
The Location of Mesopotamia
Mesopotamia comes from Greek words Between the rivers Tigris and Euphrates Shaped like a crescent moon Great place for growing crops
6
What is the term for the area between the rivers?
7
What is the term for the area between the rivers?
Mesopotamia
8
Rivers Support the Growth of Civilization
Early people settled where crops could grow. Grew well near rivers. Southwest Asia was well suited for farming
9
Location Mesopotamia is between Asia Minor and the Persian Gulf as well.
10
The Fertile Crescent Fertile crescent is a large arc or crescent of fertile farmland. Extends to Persian Gulf and Mediterranean Sea. (In ancient times) Mesopotamia was in two parts
11
The Rise of Civilization
Hunter-gatherer first settled in Mesopotamia more than 12,000 years ago. Learned to plant crops and grow their own food.
12
Rise of Civilization (Continued)
Every year the Tigris and Euphrates rivers flooded. Brought silt. Silt- Mixture of rich soil and tiny rocks Ideal for farming
13
Rivers of Life Tigris and Euphrates were the source of life for the people of Mesopotamia Supplied fish Reeds for making boats Clay for building
14
Farming Settlements First farm settlements in Mesopotamia about 7000 B.C. Farmers grew wheat, barely, and other grains. Livestock were also good sources of food. Plentiful food = population growth.
15
Farming Settlements Continued
Population growth= villages form. Villages develop into world's first civilization
16
Farming and Cities Mesopotamia received little rain
Water levels in Mesopotamia depended on how much rain fell in eastern Asia Minor If Water got too high floods destroyed crops, killed livestock, and destroyed homes. Water level too low crops dried Farmers needed to control river’s flow.
17
Rivers of Death Tigris and Euphrates also sometimes brought flood waters Deposited good soil Flood waters did not come at the same time every year People were swept away Also houses and animals
18
Controlling Water To solve their problems Mesopotamians used irrigation Irrigation is a way of supplying water to an area of land. To irrigate land farmers dug storage basins to hold water supplies.
19
Controlling Water People dug canals human-made waterways.
Canals connected basins to a network of ditches Ditches brought water to fields To protect fields from flooding farmers built up banks Built up banks held flood-water back when river levels were too high
20
Irrigation increased the amount of food farmers produced
Food Surpluses Irrigation increased the amount of food farmers produced A surplus or more than of an item was developed. Farmers Used irrigation to water grazing areas for cattle
21
Food Surpluses (Continued)
As a result to food surpluses Mesopotamians ate many foods Mesopotamians ate fish, meat, wheat, barely, and dates
22
New occupations developed
Dividing Labor Fewer people farmed because of irrigation People started doing other jobs New occupations developed The type of arrangement where each worker specializes in a particular task is division of labor
23
Mesopotamian Society With more job occupations society accomplished more Large projects such as constructing buildings were started Projects required skilled workers Structure and rules provided by government
24
The Appearance of Cities
Mesopotamian settlements grew Developed into cities around B.C Society in Mesopotamia based on agriculture Most people farmed
25
The Appearance of Cities (Continued)
People traded There were political leaders with power bases There was political, religious, cultural, and economic centers of civilization
26
Geography of the Fertile Crescent questions
27
Where is Mesopotamia located?
Question #1 Where is Mesopotamia located? a.) between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers b.) in Europe c.) the Americas d.) far from the Mediterranean Sea
28
a.) between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers
Answer To Question #1 a.) between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers
29
How did the Fertile Crescent get its name?
Question #2 How did the Fertile Crescent get its name? a.) it is a large arc of rich soil b.) it is the moons reflection c.) it has the same land features as the moon when it is a crescent shape d.) it is in the shape of a circle
30
a.) it is a large arc of rich soil
Answer To Question #2 a.) it is a large arc of rich soil
31
Question #3 What was the most important factor in making Mesopotamia's farmland fertile? a.) there were many lakes b.) there was a lot of rain in Mesopotamia c.) Mesopotamia's land was not fertile d.) the Tigris and Euphrates rivers
32
d.) the Tigris and Euphrates rivers
Answer To Question #3 d.) the Tigris and Euphrates rivers
33
What is a large arc of rich, or fertile, farmland?
Question #4 What is a large arc of rich, or fertile, farmland? a.) Fertile Crescent b.) Earth c.) Asia Minor d.) Mesopotamia
34
Answer To Question #4 a.) Fertile Crescent
35
What is silt? Question #5 a.) Grass and rocks b.) tiny rocks and water
c.) tiny rocks and rich soil d.) sand
36
c.) tiny rocks and rich soil
Answer to Question #5 c.) tiny rocks and rich soil
37
Why did farmers need a system to control their water?
Question #6 Why did farmers need a system to control their water? a.) rains caused floods b.) flooding from the Tigris and Euphrates river c.) they wanted to have extra drinking water d.) all of the above
38
b.) flooding from the Tigris and Euphrates river
Answer to Question #6 b.) flooding from the Tigris and Euphrates river
39
What increased the amount of food farmers were able to produce?
Question #7 What increased the amount of food farmers were able to produce? a.) canals b.) irrigation c.) rivers d.) lakes
40
Answer To Question #7 b.) irrigation
41
Question #8 How did irrigation help farmers?
a.) it provided a way of supplying land with water b.) it produced floods c.) it collected salt water d.) all of the above
42
a.) it provided a way of supplying land with water
Answer To Question #8 a.) it provided a way of supplying land with water
43
Question #9 What are canals? a.) Greek myths b.) surplus
c.) human-made waterways d.) rivers
44
c.) human-made waterways
Answer To Question #9 c.) human-made waterways
45
Question #10 What is a surplus? a.) starvation b.) livestock
c.) more than needed d.) the Oracle of Delphi
46
Answer To Question #10 c.) more than needed
47
What did people in Mesopotamia eat?
Question #11 What did people in Mesopotamia eat? a.) wheat, meat, fish, barley, and dates b.) sharks c.) dogs d.) grasses
48
a.) wheat, meat, fish, barley, and dates
Answer To Question #11 a.) wheat, meat, fish, barley, and dates
49
When worker specialized in a specific task it was
Question #12 When worker specialized in a specific task it was a.) the plague b.) division of labor c.) metal d.) the dark ages
50
Answer To Question #12 b.) division of labor
51
With __________ society could accomplish more.
Question #13 With __________ society could accomplish more. a.) division of labor b.) farming c.) astronomy d.) math
52
Answer To Question #13 a.) division of labor
53
Between 4000 and 3000 B.C. what was society based on in Mesopotamia?
Question #14 Between 4000 and 3000 B.C. what was society based on in Mesopotamia? a.) agriculture b.) public leaders c.) arts and crafts d.) trade of ink
54
Answer to Question #14 a.) agriculture
55
When did Mesopotamia develop into cities?
Question # 15 When did Mesopotamia develop into cities? a.) B.C b.) B.C c.) B.C d.) B.C
56
Answer to Question #15 a.) B.C
Similar presentations
© 2025 SlidePlayer.com. Inc.
All rights reserved.