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Mesopotamia: Background & Geography |
Mesopotamia is Greek for "land between two rivers."
The northern part of Mesopotamia is a plateau: a high, flat area of land. The southern part is an alluvial plain: a low, flat land formed from fine soils deposited by rivers.
What are the two rivers?
Tigris River: fast moving river with many tributaries (branches of a river), 1,720 miles long
Euphrates River: slow moving, winding river, with few tributaries, 1,250 miles long
The source of both rivers is high in the Taurus Mountains. The rivers flow downward through Mesopotamia's plateaus to the plains and in to the Persian Gulf.
The area of Mesopotamia is bordered on the:
- west by the Mediterranean Sea
- southeast by the Persian Gulf
- northwest by the Taurus Mountains
- east by the Zagros Mountains
Present-day countries that exist in this area include Iraq, Iran, Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, and Israel.
Fertile Crescent: This is another name for the area of land (Mesopotamia) because it appears to be shaped like a crescent moon. Fertile refers to the rich soil found there.
The climate in the region is hot and dry, with very few natural resources. The region receive very little rain - droughts: periods of long time with little or no rain. This means that the sun bakes and hardens the clay soil, making it unsuitable for growing anything.
In late spring, the Tigris River and the Euphrates River overflow their banks and deposit their fertile silt: a rich mixture of rock and soil which makes the ground excellent for growing (agriculture!). This overflow or flooding of the rivers in the spring depended on the melting snows in the mountains where the rivers begin. So, the flooding is irregular and hard to predict. It would be very difficult for people to get the water they needed, when they needed it. People had to somehow control the environment....
IRRIGATION
Irrigation is the use of connected ditches, canals, dams, and dikes to move water to dry areas. Large-scale irrigation by the people of Mesopotamia enabled the expansion of agriculture (the raising of domesticated plants and animals). This expansion of agriculture meant an abundant food source that allowed the civilization of Mesopotamia to grow.
Such large-scale irrigation was only possible with a massive human effort to carefully manage the water. This effort created the need for organization which led to the start of civilized cities.
Through irrigation, the people of Mesopotamia could bring water to dry areas, in order to grow crops. Irrigation allowed water from the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers to be stored and used when needed. Farmers could now water crops, especially during dry months.
Irrigation also allowed people to control the unpredictable flooding of the rivers, which previously could cause great damage to both farming fields and villages. Now canals and ditches carried away flood waters, keeping important land safe.
Crops grown included barley, wheat, emmer (grain), vegetables such as onions and cucumbers, and fruit such as figs and apples. Fields not suitable for crops were used for grazing animals (such as goats, sheep, and cattle). These animals provided meat, milk, and wool. Horses, camels, and donkeys were also used to help assist people with their work (farming).
The Tigris and Euphrates Rivers, through irrigation, allowed the people of Mesopotamia to have a reliable source of water. Water was/is extremely important for life: for drinking, washing, recreation, transportation, trade, natural resources (gold, coral, clay, silt, etc), and food!
IRRIGATION > WATER to dry farmlands > better AGRICULTURE > more FOOD > POPULATION GROWTH