fertile+Crescent

=The Fertile Crescent=

Mesopotamia has a long history, many natural resources, and two rivers that greatly affect their society. Their general past has affected how they came up and how their society functions while their natural resources have affected their society throughout their history. Another large variable that has affected their society are the rivers that surround Mesopotamia. They are the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers, they have brought both good and bad to the villages throughout Mesopotamia and have been bringing this good and evil throughout Mesopotamia's past. All this and more have contributed to Mesopotamia's history, society, and how they function.

The Fertile Crescent is located between Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey, and Iraq. It is also in a close vicinity to the Mediterranean Sea, the Black Sea, the Caspian Sea, and the Persian Gulf. The Fertile Crescent is also surrounded by deserts and mountains, like Egypt. Part of the Fertile Crescent is known as Mesopotamia, Mesopotamia is located between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers in Iraq.
 * Location:**

• Wandering herders were attracted to the fruitful hills of the Fertile Crescent. • Over time the people grew weak and were conquered by another group of wandering herders. • These herders would also grow weak and would be conquered as well. This form of migration continued as the people began to move to the valleys of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. • The lush and lowest area in the Tigris-Euphrates valley was known as Sumer and nomadic people inhabited it. • Originally the Neolithic people controlled it but as two other groups of nomadic herders joined they became known as the Sumerian's. • The Sumerian's: -Created a system of writing called cuneiform -Discovered how to use metal by 3000 B.C. -Developed their own culture
 * History:**
 * Sumerians:**

Both the rivers can create problems for the Mesopotamian society. • The Tigris River makes a path in the earth that lowers the water level-results and in difficult irrigation for surrounding villages • Instead of easily collecting the water through canals where the water flows downwards, the people are forced to it in a more complicated fashion. They have the difficult task of somehow getting the water to flow up to the fields, from the low-water level of the river. • The Euphrates River carries a large amount of silt that collects at the bottom of it, it builds up and can push the water level way up, causing the river to overflow. • Floodwaters are caused and the people must make canals and dikes to bring the water to the fields. These canals and dikes will also carry excess water back to the river after it floods. • Floods are unpredictable and when the rivers flooded the valley it caused the people to believe that nature and the gods were angry and unreasonable.
 * Affects of the Rivers:**
 * The Tigris River**
 * The Euphrates River**



• Fishing is made possible by rivers • Rivers can be used to irrigate • Timber for building houses and gates • Has a few mountains that provide stone for tools • Seasonal rains help crops grow to fullest • Mud bricks were used to build houses • Had some trade with neighbors for more tools
 * Natural Resources of The Fertile Crescent****:**
 * Northern Mesopotamia**

• Marshy lands and empty plains, no timber for wood • Not much stone for tools • Irrigated rivers for crops • Had to trade with neighbors for supplies that they couldn’t produce • Located between two rivers • Located in a valley • Hills and mountains have wildlife, they are the perfect spot for herders o Herders watched Mesopotamians with what looked like an easy life o Herders got angry that their lives were so different and attacked o Mesopotamians gained back power because the herders were to weak to maintain control • The mountains and hills around Mesopotamia protected the Mesopotamians from some things but not everything. • The invasion of the herders proves the point that the mountains and rivers couldn’t keep them safe from everything
 * Southern Mesopotamia**
 * Protection:**

Above, in order, are pictures of herders, southern Mesopotamia, and Northern Mesopotamia

Natural Resources - Adrian Copeland Protection - Lindsey Purpura History - Becca Bell Affects of the Rivers - Lauren Wrobleski