1. MESOPOTAMIA is a part of an area called the FERTILE CRESCENT b/c of its rich soil & curved shape

2. Mesopotamia (Greek for land between two rivers) is an area that lies between the Tigris & Euphrates Rivers Both rivers start in mountains of Turkey & flow SE through Iraq where they meet up before emptying out into the Persian Gulf Rain/melting snow swell rivers & cause them to overflow onto the flat land bordering rivers – this deposits silt, making land extremely fertile_ Unlike the Nile, floods of the 2 rivers were unpredictable Farmers didn't know when to plant or how big each flood would be The area receives little rainfall & as a result, drought was common - lack of rain lowered river levels & made irrigation more difficult Nevertheless, settlements formed in Mesopotamia in approx. 7000 BCE Farmers grew wheat/other grains - food surplus led to population growth Mesopotamia is considered the world’s 1 st civilization (before Ancient Egypt, India & China) and is referred to as the cradle of civilization Mesopotamia has few natural barriers so it was easy to invade Foreigners like the Egyptians often stole from/conquered the area

3. Most of Mesopotamia is located in what is now the country of _____________