“Land Between the Rivers”
Answer Key
Question 1: How did the geography of Mesopotamia
make this a likely area for civilization?
• A: Mesopotamia was between two rivers so it was a
great place for growing crops. It had plenty of fresh
water and fertile soil.
Question 2: What might be some advantages and
disadvantages to living between two rivers?
• Advantages-
* Water for crops
* Bathing
* Drinking water
* Transportation
* Trade
* Food (fish/mammals)
Question 2 (cont’d):
Another advantage (today, but not in 3500 B.C…)
~Electricity~
Question 2 (cont’d):
Disadvantages
* Flooding
(crops, homes)
* Insects
* Wild animals
Question 3: What does the word, “Mesopotamia”
mean?
A: Mesopotamia is Greek for “…(land) between the
rivers…”
Question 4: Look at the map on page 30. Name two features
that would discourage human settlement and explain why.
• Zagros Mountains
• Syrian Desert
• Arabian Desert
--difficult to grow food
in deserts,
mountains.
--lack of water in
desert.
Question 5: How did the Fertile Crescent get its name?
Name the body of water that borders the western edge of the
Fertile Crescent.
A: The region is somewhat crescent shaped, and
extremely fertile due to rich soil from the two rivers.
Question 6: What is a “city-state”? What are three
characteristics given for city-states?
city-state: an independent city separated from other
cities by long distances—like a very small country with
just one city in it.
• Have own god/goddess
• Have their own government
• Have their own king
Question 7: Sumerians were a “polytheistic” people.
What does the word polytheism mean?
• A: Polytheism is the belief in more than one
(multiple) gods. (The Greeks and Romans were
polytheistic).