Mesopotamia Geography

1.

Which of those listed below are Mesopotamia's natural barriers?

A.

The Zagros Mountains & the Persian Gulf
B.

The Black Sea and Caspian Sea
C.

The Taurus and Sumerian Deserts
D.

The Tigris & Euphrates Rivers

Correct Answer(s)
A. The Zagros Mountains & the Persian Gulf
C. The Taurus and Sumerian Deserts

Explanation
The Zagros Mountains and the Persian Gulf are natural barriers that define the eastern and southeastern borders of Mesopotamia, providing protection from invasions and acting as a physical barrier against external threats. The Taurus and Sumerian Deserts, located to the north and south of Mesopotamia respectively, also serve as natural barriers. These arid desert regions create obstacles for potential invaders, making it difficult to penetrate into the heartland of Mesopotamia. Overall, these natural barriers played a crucial role in shaping the geography and defense of Mesopotamia, providing protection and defining its borders against external threats.

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2.

Which modern country occupies the place where Mesopotamia existed?

A.

Iraq
B.

Iran
C.

Persia
D.

Baghdad

Correct Answer
A. Iraq

3.

Which best describes "the land between the rivers?"

A.

Mesopotamia is mostly desert.
B.

Mesopotamia is where farming began.
C.

Mesopotamia is rich in natural resources.
D.

Mesopotamia is where the Legend of Sleepy River takes place.

Correct Answer
B. Mesopotamia is where farming began.

Explanation
"Mesopotamia is where farming began" refers to the historical significance of the region located between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, known as Mesopotamia. This area, located in present-day Iraq and parts of Syria, Iran, and Turkey, is often referred to as "the land between the rivers." Mesopotamia is considered the birthplace of agriculture because it was one of the earliest regions where humans transitioned from a nomadic hunter-gatherer lifestyle to settled agricultural communities. The fertile soil and regular flooding of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers provided ideal conditions for farming, leading to the development of irrigation techniques and the cultivation of crops such as wheat, barley, and dates. This agricultural revolution laid the foundation for the growth of complex societies and civilizations in Mesopotamia, making it a crucial area in the history of human civilization.

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4.

Which best describes Mesopotamia’s location on a map?

A.

Mesopotamia sits at the intersection of Europe, Asia and Africa.
B.

Mesopotamia sits between east and west.
C.

Mesopotamia was near everything in the ancient world.
D.

Mesopotamia is always on the front of a map.

Correct Answer
A. Mesopotamia sits at the intersection of Europe, Asia and Africa.

5.

What is irrigation?

A.

Irrigation is a system of canals leading from the rivers to the fields
B.

Irrigation is movement from one place to another for the purpose of settlement.
C.

Irrigation is a minor annoyance.
D.

Irrigation is the study of early settlement patterns.

Correct Answer
A. Irrigation is a system of canals leading from the rivers to the fields

6.

How did irrigation help the early settlers of Mesopotamia?

A.

With irrigation, people turned from being controlled by the environment to being able to change their environment.
B.

Irrigation led to robust agriculture that supported the development of cities.
C.

Irrigation led to water shortages down river from settlements.
D.

Irrigation led to the invention of the shovel, so important to the building of the first civilization.

Correct Answer(s)
A. With irrigation, people turned from being controlled by the environment to being able to change their environment.
B. Irrigation led to robust agriculture that supported the development of cities.

7.

What does Mesopotamia mean?

A.

The Land of 1000 Dances.
B.

The Land of Scarce Water
C.

The Land Between the Rivers
D.

The Land of the First Civilization
E.

The Land of the First Inventions

Correct Answer
C. The Land Between the Rivers

8.

Why is Mesopotamia sometimes referred to as the “Fertile Crescent?”

A.

Because of the acres and acres of green crops in the middle of the desert, Mesopotamia became known as the “fertile crescent.”
B.

Because it was the sight of the world's first population explosion, Mesopotamia became known as the “fertile crescent.”
C.

Because it was the birthplace of the "croissant," Mesopotamia became known as the “fertile crescent.”
D.

Because it was the birthplace of civilization, Mesopotamia became known as the “fertile crescent.”

Correct Answer
A. Because of the acres and acres of green crops in the middle of the desert, Mesopotamia became known as the “fertile crescent.”

9.

Why did Mesopotamia’s early settlers build communities near the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers?

A.

The rivers made the soil good for growing crops.
B.

That is where the best schools were.
C.

The people who already lived there were not a threat.
D.

The rivers made the landscape pleasing to wake up to.

Correct Answer
A. The rivers made the soil good for growing crops.

10.

Which of the following are resources provided by the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers to Mesopotamia's early settlers?

A.

The rivers provided easy transportation between settlements
B.

The rivers provided water for drinking, bathing, and irrigating crops.
C.

The rivers provided an abundance of fish and water birds, such as ducks and geese, for eating.
D.

The mud along the banks of the rivers provided clay for pottery and materials for brick making.
E.

The rivers provided all the materials needed to invent the world's first Slip-N-Slide.

Correct Answer(s)
B. The rivers provided water for drinking, bathing, and irrigating crops.
C. The rivers provided an abundance of fish and water birds, such as ducks and geese, for eating.
D. The mud along the banks of the rivers provided clay for pottery and materials for brick making.