Geography of Mesopotamia

What did Mesopotamia have in common with other ancient civilizations?

• Mesopotamia contained a fertile river valley.

• Mesopotamia developed a strong central government.

• Mesopotamia relied primarily on trade to provide its food supply.

How did ancient Mesopotamians benefit from flooding of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers?

• The floods washed away pollution from the cities.

• The floods brought silt that made the soil extremely fertile.

• The floods created natural ditches that could be used for irrigating crops.

What was the main benefit provided by the floods in ancient Mesopotamia?

• highly fertile soil.

• removal of waste generated pollution

• a steady supply of fresh drinking water

Developments in metalworking in ancient Mesopotamia provided which of these to farmers?

• lighter wooden wagons

• stronger iron plows

• better clay irrigation pipes

Ancient Mesopotamian irrigation systems helped do which of the following?

• store drinking water for year-round use

• divert excess water during times of flood

• provide water for crops during drought

in about 3500 BCE, groups of nomadic humans migrated from place to place. Eventually, some of those nomads settled in the area between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers in Mesopotamia.

Which statement best explains why a group of nomadic people would have settled in ancient Mesopotamia?

• The area was surrounded by deserts which made further travel difficult

• The area had natural defenses, which made it safe from invasion

• The area contained all of the natural resources needed to ensure a steady food supply

The ancient Mesopotamian cities of Ur, Eridu, and Uruk were all

• located along major rivers

• the capitals of strong empires

• centers of trade with other civilizations

Which factor most led to the richness of soil in ancient Mesopotamia?

• animal waste spread on crops by farmers

• silt brought down from the mountains by melting snow

• nutrients added by farmers to the water in irrigation canals

The flooding of the Tigris and Euphrates every spring brought both benefits and drawbacks. The floodwaters brought fertile silt to the land. But even with the rich soil, it was still difficult to farm. Mesopotamians could not predict when the floods would occur or how high the flood waters would reach. The flow was so unpredictable that it sometimes washed away crops, or caused rivers to change course.

Although flooding caused problems, it also helped ancient Mesopotamians overcome which problem that modern societies still face?

• disease

• invasion

• hunger

Which statement best explains why flood control was important to Mesopotamia?

• Flooded rivers were an important power source

• The rivers were the main source of transportation

• Annual flooding often damaged crops and housing settlements