Although southern Mesopotamia is a hot, desert region, why was it able to become the cradle of civilizations?
A. Nomads developed aggressive herding techniques
B. Flooding of the Tigris and Euphrates river brought good soil
C. Farmers developed technology for irrigation***
D. Tribes built deep wells and extensive cooling structures for good crops***
E. Engineers developed ways of extracting usable fresh water from the salt water of the Persian Golf
I think it might be B or D too, can you help me? Thx!
C is right; D is not.
Of the options provided, the correct answer is C - farmers developed technology for irrigation.
Southern Mesopotamia, located between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, is a hot and arid region. While flooding of the rivers did bring nutrient-rich soil to the area (option B), it was the development of irrigation technologies by farmers (option C) that played a crucial role in turning this inhospitable region into the cradle of civilizations.
Irrigation involves manipulating the flow and distribution of water to cultivate crops. In the case of southern Mesopotamia, the people developed ingenious ways to harness the water from the rivers and divert it into intricate canal networks, allowing them to control the water supply and distribute it to their fields. By effectively managing water resources, they were able to create fertile farmlands, overcoming the harsh desert conditions and ensuring dependable food production.
Option D, which refers to tribes building deep wells and extensive cooling structures, is not accurate for this particular context. While water wells were indeed used, they were not the primary means of irrigation in Mesopotamia. Similarly, cooling structures were not developed specifically for crop cultivation purposes.
Option E, regarding engineers developing ways of extracting usable fresh water from the salt water of the Persian Gulf, is not applicable to the situation in southern Mesopotamia. The Persian Gulf is located to the southeast of Mesopotamia and is not directly relevant to the development of irrigation techniques in the region.
In summary, while flooding and the availability of water sources were influential factors, it was the development of irrigation technology (option C) that truly allowed southern Mesopotamia to thrive as the cradle of civilizations.