Mesopotamia
Mesopotamia was known. as the land between two rivers, the Tigris to the north and the Euphrates to the south. Rains were seasonal in this area, which meant that the land flooded in the winter and spring and water was scarce at other times. Farming in the region depended on irrigation from the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. Many resources in Mesopotamia were scarce or absent, which stimulated trade in the region in ancient times. Supported by lucrative trade with its neighbours, Mesopotamia grew to become a powerful empire. Mashkan-shapir was a typical Mesopotamian city, located about 20 miles from the Tigris River and connected to the river by a network of canals. Despite a flourishing civilization, Mashkan-shapir was abandoned within only 20 years of its settlement. What could have caused this rapid demise? Poisoned fields: A contributor to collapse along with factors such as war and changes in the environment, scientists now believe irrigation techniques played an important rolt*in Mashkan-shapir’s collapse. The same process that allowed farming in this region also eventually made it impossible to farm.
