irrigation – the process of supplying water to crops where there is not an adequate source of water. An irrigation system typically has four parts:

1. dam – a wall built across a river to block or redirect the flow of water.
   

   A modern day dam in Iran

2. levee – a wall built along a riverbank to prevent a river from flooding.
   

   Levee along the Mississippi River

3. canal – a trench dug to allow water to flow from a river toward fields of crops.
   

   Thal Canal in Pakistan

4. reservoir – an artificial lake used to save extra water from a flood or rain.
   

   Satellite photo of the Maple Leaf Reservoir

silt – a fine soil carried by a river that is rich in nutrients. It is beneficial when a flood deposits silt in a field because it will help the plants grow. However, silt is harmful when it builds up behind a dam because it can clog up the irrigation system.

fertile – land that good for growing crops because it is rich in minerals and nutrients. This is the root word for fertilizer.

The Fertile Crescent – the semi-circle shaped region in the Middle East that provided good farmland. The modern day countries found in this region are Kuwait, Iraq, Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, and Israel.

The Cradle of Civilization – another name for the Fertile Crescent because the first advanced human societies were born where farming was possible.

Mesopotamia – Greek word meaning “the land between the rivers”, referring to the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. This is the central region of modern day Iraq, near Baghdad.

Sumer – the area in southern Mesopotamia where the first cities appeared. Some examples are Ur, Uruk, and Akkad.

Mesopotamia - “the land between the rivers” (specifically, the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers).
Fertile Crescent – the “C” shaped area of land with soil that was good for farming.
The Cradle of Civilization – refers to the idea that this region was the birthplace of complex human societies.

Assignment (Due Thursday, November 5, 2009)

• Fertile Crescent Map Directions
• Fertile Crescent Blank Map

Resources

• Sample map created by Ms. Falls – Ms. Falls created this map, which is based on the map on page 50 of The World and its People, which shows the natural resources of the Fertile Crescent.  Students are welcome to refer to this map if they don’t have a book at home.
• Checking out a textbook – students can check out a textbook to take home by stopping by the room after school.  Books must be returned before school the next day so we can use them during class.
• Map of Ancient Mesopotamia – this map shows the location of many of the city-states of Mesopotamia.
• British Museum Maps – series of maps about Mesopotamia created by the British Museum showing cities, terrain, natural resources, and more.
• Wikipedia article about Mesopotamia – includes links to Fertile Crescent civilizations and related maps.