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Mesopotamia in Middle School

December 12, 2020

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6th-graders have been learning about Mesopotamia and "The Fertile Crescent". Students have learned the importance of rivers and how they pertained to the lives of early civilizations. Mesopotamia was located in Southwest Asia between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. Mesopotamia actually means "between the rivers" in Greek.

Students have had the chance to take a closer look at the importance of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers and how people of the time utilized the river water to enhance their lives. Early civilizations often found themselves settling near rivers because of the fertile farm ground. Although the soil near rivers was often fertile, the hot dry summers would often dry out the crops and food. To solve their problems, Mesopotamians learned to use irrigation systems by digging canals and utilizing the water to enhance crop growth. With the help of irrigation systems, farming became more efficient and people started to have a surplus of food. With the surplus and availability of food, people took to the rivers for traveling to trade for other valuable goods. Cities started to grow and become important places for people to come to and trade and do business with each other. With farming becoming more efficient, it allowed more people to start practicing occupations based on religion, politics, and construction.