What Is Mesopotamia?

Mesopotamia is an area located between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers.

The word Mesopotamia means “between the rivers”.

Not a lot of rain falls in Mesopotamia

but water and nutrients from the
nearby rivers soak into the land. This
creates a wonderful environment for
plants and animals to survive.

Mesopotamia was an ideal location

for early societies to live.
Why Do Civilisations Settle
beside Rivers?
Water

Food

Fishing

Fertile soil
Farming and Food
Because the soil was so rich in this area, it was the perfect place for growing
crops.

The people here grew barley, wheat,

chickpeas, lentils, dates, onions, garlic, lettuce
and leeks.

Sheep, cows, goats and pigs were kept as a

supply of food

Fish, birds and gazelle were hunted

for food.
Society
Society was made up of three main sections:

Nobles this included royals and religious officials.

these people worked for the Nobles, or were farmers, crafts

Commoners
people or merchants.

Slaves they worked for palace officials or did building work.

Beliefs
In Mesopotamia, each town and city was believed to be protected
by a god.

The temples were very important because it

was believed that they connected heaven to
earth.
Skills and Crafts
The people of Mesopotamia were well known for their metalwork, woollen
textiles and pottery.

Timber, tin and copper were imported and

exchanged for wool, metal goods and fish.

Around 3000 BC, the invention of the wheel made

the transportation of goods much easier.
Buildings
The most important building in the Mesopotamian city was a temple called a
ziggurat.

The ziggurat was dedicated

to the gods and goddesses of
the city.

Houses were built using

sun-dried bricks.

Some buildings were made

from stone
or wood.
Weapons and Tools
They used weapons such as: They used tools such as:

● swords; ● saws;
● daggers; ● hammers;
● knives; ● nails;
● axes; ● pins;
● clubs; ● chisels;
● armour. ● braces.
Technology and Language
These civilisations invented many useful tools to
help their daily life, including:

writing systems done in clay;

number systems;

irrigation systems;

wheeled vehicles;

Calendar;

Boats.