CHAPTER 2 LESSON 3 The First Communities Geography Practice

Early Farming Communities The Fertile Crescent extends through parts of southwest Asia. Although the surrounding region is mainly desert, the Fertile Crescent is an arc of land that provides some of the best farming in the area. It includes the lands facing the Mediterranean Sea and a plain that became known as Mesopotamia, “the land between the rivers.” The rivers framing Mesopotamia are the Tigris and Euphrates. As early as 11,000 B.C., people began settling in this region and in nearby areas. There is archaeological evidence of a number of agricultural settlements. Catal Huyuk, which you read about in Chapter 2, Lesson 3, is shown on this map and was one of the early sites in the general area. CHAPTER 2 CHAPTER

Early Farming Communities, 8000–5000 B.C.

Caspian Sea ANATOLIA

Catal Huyuk

Z a MureybetMureybet g T r E M i o u E g p S r s h O i Jarmo r P s M at O es R T o iver A u M n Byblos IA t a Mediterranean i n Ri Sea ver s

Jericho

Eridu in Company. All rights reserved. in Company.

Persian N Gulf

W E

Early farming community S 0 100 200 miles Fertile crescent Red Sea 0 100 200 kilometers Copyright © Houghton Miffl Copyright

Chapter 2, Lesson 3 31 In-Depth Resources

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PRACTICE Use the map to do these activities and answer these questions.

1. Which agricultural settlement was located farthest south in the western part of the Fertile Crescent?

2. Which settlement on the map is located the farthest north?

3. What four major bodies of water surround this region?

4. Color in the Fertile Crescent.

CHAPTER 2 5. What was the approximate distance from Catal Huyuk to Eridu?

APPLY

6. With a partner, research one of the early sites other than Catal Huyuk shown on the map, What features of the specifi c location made it a good spot for an agricultural settlement? in Company. All rights reserved. in Company. Copyright © Houghton Miffl Copyright

32 Chapter 2, Lesson 3 In-Depth Resources

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