Mesopotamia and Agriculture

Vocabulary terms regarding the development of Mesopotamian civilization, focusing on farming, irrigation, and the impact of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers.

Mesopotamia

The land between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, which means 'land between rivers.'

Tigris and Euphrates

The two rivers between which the ancient Mesopotamian civilization developed.

Agriculture

The practice of farming and domestication of animals that led to the growth of settled life and early civilization.

Domestication

The process of taming animals; sheep and goats were among the first animals to be domesticated in Mesopotamia.

Irrigation

Systems such as canals and ditches built by farmers to protect their crops from drying out and to manage water.

Surplus

An extra supply of crops allowed by irrigation, which helped Mesopotamian cities grow and thrive.

Barley

One of the most common crops grown in ancient Mesopotamia.

River Floods

A significant challenge nearby rivers posed to early humans that required management to prevent the destruction of settlements.

Cradle of Civilization

A term used to describe areas like Mesopotamia where early civilizations first began near rivers.