Transcript Egyptian Geography
MESOPOTAMIAN GEOGRAPHY
Cradle of Civilization
Location
Ancient Mesopotamia lay in what we know today as Iraq, northeast Syria and part of south east Turkey.
The name comes from the Greeks Meso: meaning middle Potamos: meaning river Thus Mesopotamia literally means “land between the rivers”.
Specifically the Tigris and Euphrates
Tigris River
Euphrates River
The Fertile Crescent
Mesopotamia was part of an area known as the “Fertile Crescent” which stretched in an arc from the Persian Gulf through northeast Syria to the Mediterranean Sea.
It was the site of the world’s first permanent farming villages
Egyptian Geography The Nile River
• Early Egyptians lived along the banks of the Nile.
• It was a source of life.
• It supplied them with food, fish, & water.
• It was also used for the
transportation
of goods & people.
• The
Nile is the worlds longest river
(7000 km in length) . • It flows northward to the Mediterranean Sea.
• Just before the Sea the Nile splits into branches, forming a fan shaped
delta
.
• In the late spring & summer the Nile gets more volume from tropical rains (central Africa), & melting snow (Ethiopian mountains) causing it to flood.
• This annual predictable flooding is called
the Inundation
.
• In fall when the waters recede a thick deposit of dark soil is left on nearby fields. • This soil (
Black Land)
is perfect for farming.
• There were 3 main seasons: flood season, growing season, & dry season. • Their calendar of 365 days was based on these cycles.
.
• In dry season the Egyptians learned to irrigate using a
shaduf
.
• Beyond the fertile areas is the
Red Land.
• It contains
Western Desert
and the
Eastern Desert
(Libyan) (Arabian).
•
1) Lower Egypt containing the Nile Delta is in the north.
• This is where papyrus was harvested, then used to make paper, sandals, rope, etc.
• This area also opened on the Mediterranean sea & trade.
• 2)
Upper Egypt
containing the Nile Valley is in the
south
.
• Its ancient cliffs border the desert on both sides & cataracts protected Egyptians from foreign invasion.
Characteristics of civilization
Natural Resources: Civilizations emerge in regions able to support growing populations. Fertile soil and a regular source of water are needed to support larger communities.
According to our list of characteristics, both Egypt and Mesopotamia meet this first criteria of a civilization.