Question

How did geographic conditions in southern Mesopotamia encourage the development of civilization there?

Answer 1

Mesopotamia is made up of different regions, each with its own geography. The geography of each area and the natural resources found there affected the ways that people lived.

Northern Mesopotamia is made up of hills and plains. The land is quite fertile due to seasonal rains, and the rivers and streams flowing from the mountains. Early settlers farmed the land and used timber, metals and stone from the mountains nearby.

Southern Mesopotamia is made up of marshy areas and wide, flat, barren plains. Cities developed along the rivers which flow through the region. Early settlers had to irrigate the land along the banks of the rivers in order for their crops to grow. Since they did not have many natural resources, contact with neighbouring lands was important.

Life in Mesopotamia was concentrated between the rivers Tigris and Euphrates. They were used for transport, but were also the means by which the people of Mesopotamia could live, as they provided water to drink and to irrigate the surrounding land. Once the land was irrigated, it could produce crops and other foods for the people to eat. With such good yields - the people had extra food to sell - commerce began to develop. With markets - the need for an organized government grew. A government needed to codify local customs and so Laws came into being. Also - as laws and customer became more complex - these rules needed to be formally enshrined - writing was invented .

As cities developed In Mesopotamia, each town and city was believed to be protected by its own, unique deity or god. The temple called a Ziggurat, was the center of worship as well as the center of every city. Hope this helps!!