Mesopotamia Geography

1. Why did Mesopotamia's early settlers build communities near the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers?

The rivers made the soil good for growing crops.

That is where the best schools were.

The people who already lived there were not a threat.

The rivers made the landscape pleasing to wake up to.

2. What does Mesopotamia mean?

The Land of 1000 Dances.

The Land of Scarce Water

The Land Between the Rivers

The Land of the First Civilization

The Land of the First Inventions

3. Which modern country occupies the place where Mesopotamia existed?

Iraq

Iran

Persia

Baghdad

4. Which best describes Mesopotamia's location on a map?

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

Mesopotamia sits between east and west.

Mesopotamia was near everything in the ancient world.

Mesopotamia is always on the front of a map.

5. What is irrigation?

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

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

Irrigation is a minor annoyance.

Irrigation is the study of early settlement patterns.

6. Why is Mesopotamia sometimes referred to as the "Fertile Crescent?"

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

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

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

7. Which of the following is NOT a major city of ancient Mesopotamia?

Babylon

Uruk

Memphis

Ur

Memphis was a major city in ancient Egypt, not Mesopotamia. Babylon, Uruk, and Ur were important urban centers in Mesopotamia, known for their significant contributions to civilization, including writing, law, and monumental architecture.

Explanation

Memphis was a major city in ancient Egypt, not Mesopotamia. Babylon, Uruk, and Ur were important urban centers in Mesopotamia, known for their significant contributions to civilization, including writing, law, and monumental architecture.

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

The rivers provided easy transportation between settlements

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

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

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

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

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9. Which of the following rivers is NOT associated with ancient Mesopotamia?

Tigris

Euphrates

Nile

Karun

The Tigris and Euphrates rivers were the defining geographical features of ancient Mesopotamia, providing fertile land for agriculture and facilitating trade and transportation. The Karun River, a tributary of the Tigris, also flowed through the region. The Nile River, however, is associated with ancient Egypt, not Mesopotamia.

Explanation

The Tigris and Euphrates rivers were the defining geographical features of ancient Mesopotamia, providing fertile land for agriculture and facilitating trade and transportation. The Karun River, a tributary of the Tigris, also flowed through the region. The Nile River, however, is associated with ancient Egypt, not Mesopotamia.

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10. How did irrigation help the early settlers of Mesopotamia?

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

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

Irrigation led to water shortages down river from settlements.

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

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