Food

Mesopotamia was one of the first centres of human civilization in the areas of Iraq and eastern Syria between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. Mesopotamia is a Greek word for "Between the rivers." The Mesopotamians developed a handful of tools that we use today, which include writing, the first calendar, and the first wheel. One important cause of this successful progress was its abundance of food.
 * Introduction **


 * Significance **

In ancient times the little amount of food questioned man's survival. While in ancient Mesopotamia, mankind enjoyed the big amount of food produced by the fertile soil between the Euphrates and the Tigris rivers. For the first time in history mankind had a decent amount of food to survive.


 * Types of Food **

Grains that were high in fibre and nutritious vegetables to grew in large amounts from the rich soil. A common crop that was grown by the Mesopotamians was flax. Flax was used by the Mesopotamians to produce some materials, such as nets, cloth, linseed oil, meal, and many pharmaceuticals. Another food source that was popular for the Mesopotamians were the two rivers that surrounded the ancient land. From the Tigris and Euphrates rivers the Mesopotamians were able to hunt many different types of fish and other aquatic animals. Date palms, also a very important source of food to the Mesopotamians. These specific palms grew in southern Mesopotamia by the river supplied materials such as fibres, fodder, wood, and rich food. Products from these palms were very important to Mesopotamian trade and really helped make Mesopotamia a very rich and powerful leader in the international trade. Even though Mesopotamia was for the most part very dry and hot, the Tigris and the Euphrates rivers supplied the soil on its banks and produced a lot of very fertile soil that was used to grow many other types of crops. Some of these other crops included leeks, onions, lentils, wheat, and barley. Each of these crops were freely available to the Mesopotamians and were used at a very rapid rate. As well as leeks, lentils, and other types of crops, many spices, herbs, and fruits such as the fig were available. Grapes were also very important to the Mesopotamians and were used in the production of wine. The olive tree, which was native to the Mesopotamian area, was very useful because it was valued throughout Mesopotamia and its surrounding areas for its oil which was used to make medicines, perfume bases, lamp fuel, and most of all for cooking.

Here is a video of a traditional Mesopotamian food.

media type="youtube" key="pQgXM7UrdJs" height="315" width="560"

**Finding ways to get the Food**

Around 10,000 B.C.E., many hunter-gatherers living along the coastal plains of modern Syria and Israel and in the valleys and hills near the Zagros Mountains between Iran and Iraq began to develop strategies that led to a transformation in the human community. Rather than constantly traveling in search of food, people stayed in one region and utilized the seasonal sources of food, including fish, grain, fruits and game. At a community such as Jericho, people built and rebuilt their mud brick and stone huts rather than moving on as had their ancestors. In general, these communities began to focus on seasonal food sources and so were less likely to leave in search of new sources. Just why hunters and gatherers in this region of the ancient world turned to agriculture is difficult to say. And there are a variety of problems associated with this transformation. For one thing, specialization in a relatively small number of plants or animals could be a disaster during times of famine.

Critical Thinking

In ancient Mesopotamia it was much harder to get food because we didn't have specific tools that we use nowadays. For example, in ancient Mesopotamia if people wanted food they would have to go through a lot to get it. Nowadays if someone wants food just go to any food store or restaurant. This is why I think getting food is much easier in modern times.

Bibliography

[] This is were I got my Information on how Mesopotamians domesticated plants and animals. [] This is were I got my information on finding ways to get food. [] This is were I got my information on Significance. [] This is were I got my information on types of food and the introduction.