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As 6th graders, you must become familiar with the geography of ancient Mesopotamia!

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Watch the video to help gain an understanding of the Mesopotamian Geography

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You will need to know the following locations of interest

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You will need to know the following locations of interest

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The Black Sea

The Tigris River

The Euphrates River

The Persian Gulf

The Zagros Mountains

The Mediterranean Sea

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The Mediterranean Sea is a vast sea that was a hub for trade and cultural exchange during antiquity

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The Mediterranean Sea is the body of water that separates Europe, Africa and Asia.

The Mediterranean Sea is connected to the Atlantic Ocean by a narrow passage called the Strait of Gibraltar. It is between the southern tip of Spain and northern Morroco. It is almost completely surrounded by land, on the north by Europe, on the south by North Africa, and on the east by the Middle East. It covers around 2.5 million km² (965 000 mi²).

To the east it connects to the Sea of Marmara and the Black Sea, by the Dardanelles and the Bosporus. The Sea of Marmara is often thought to be a part of the Mediterranean Sea. The Black Sea is much bigger than the Dardanelles, and is generally not considered part of the Mediterranean.

The 163 km (101 mi) long man-made Suez Canal in the southeast connects the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea. The canal is between Egypt and the Sinai peninsula. It was built by the French Compagnie Universelle du Canal Maritime de Suez from 1859 to 1869 against the British government.As a sea around which some of the most ancient human civilizations were arranged

Some of the most ancient human civilisations were made around the Mediterranean Sea, so it has had a large influence on the history and ways of life of these cultures. It provided a way of trade, colonization and war, and was the basis of life (like fishing and catching other seafood) for many communities throughout the ages. The combination of similarly shared climate, geology and access to a common sea has led to lots of historical and cultural connections between the ancient and modern societies around the Mediterranean.

Above all, it was the super highway of transport in ancient times. It allowed for trade and cultural exchange between peoples of the region - Phoenicians, Egyptians, Carthaginians, Greeks, Romans, and the Middle East ( Arab/ Persian/ Semitic) cultures.

The history of the Mediterranean is important in understanding the origin and development of Western civilization. In modern times, the Mediterranean was the location of many battles at sea during World War II and control over it was important for defeating the Axis Powers, Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy. Today the Mediterranean Sea still connects the economies of Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East as it did in ancient times. The european migrant crisis has resulted in many refugees drowning in the Mediterranean Sea.

Oceanography

Being nearly landlocked affects the Mediterranean Sea's properties. Tides are limited by the narrow connection with the Atlantic Ocean. The water is saltier, partly because of evaporation. The Mediterranean has a deep blue color.

Evaporation greatly exceeds precipitation and river runoff in the Mediterranean, a fact that is central to the water circulation within the basin. Evaporation is especially high in its eastern half, causing the water level to decrease and salinity to increase eastward. This pressure gradient pushes relatively cool, low-salinity water from the Atlantic across the basin; it warms and becomes saltier as it travels east, then sinks in the region of the Levant and circulates westward, to spill over the Strait of Gibraltar. Thus, seawater flow is eastward in the Strait's surface waters, and westward below; once in the Atlantic, this chemically distinct "Mediterranean Intermediate Water" can persist thousands of kilometers away from its source.

Images for kids

A submarine karst spring, called vrulja, near Omiš; observed through several ripplings of an otherwise calm sea surface.

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The Mediterranean Sea is the body of water that separates Europe, Africa and Asia. The Mediterranean Sea is connected to the Atlantic Ocean by a narrow passage called the Strait of Gibraltar. It is between the southern tip of Spain and northern Morroco.

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Why Mediterranean is important for THREE CONTINENTS?

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Early settlers in Mesopotamia began civilized life near the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. After the Neolithic age, people began to live a settled life by implementing agriculture. The Tigris and Euphrates rivers were perfect for this, as the rivers flood annualy leaving behind deposits of rich fertile soil for early farmers.

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The silt left behind from the yearly floods gave early settlers an ideal place to farm

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The Zagros Mountains provided early settlers a natural barrier that helped isolate them from outside danger.

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The Black Sea was in the northern part of Mesopotamia, it also served as a natural barrier allowing Mesopotamians to live a more civilized life by somewhat secluding them from other dangers.

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Video - Importance of Isolation in Antiquity

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Video - Importance of Isolation in Antiquity

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Complete the blooket to sharpen your skills!

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Join a game of Blooket to answer questions and compete in a fierce clash to determine who is the best and what Blook will come out victorious.

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After completing the Padlet, use the map to label the locations of interest