Mesopotamia, Egypt & Kush

The Fertile Crescent was a region that included parts of Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia. The area experienced a rainy season that lasted around 100 days, starting in late spring or early summer. This caused the Nile River to flood in Ancient Egypt, saturating the previously dry land around it with water and nutrient-rich soil called silt. The Ancient Egyptians used their knowledge of weather patterns and the Nile's water levels to plan their planting and harvest seasons. They were known for their irrigation technology that enabled them to cultivate crops during the dry months.

Their inventions, such as dikes and canals, allowed them to divert water to the crops that needed it, resulting in higher crop yields. They grew various crops, traded grains, made linen from flax, and sustained themselves on garden crops grown in smaller plots. Cities thrived along the Nile due to its proximity to transportation, facilitating trade. The same was true for the kingdom of Kush, which used similar irrigation techniques to grow crops like wheat, barley, lentils, peas, dates, and mangoes.

Iron changed farming in Kush forever, leading to the production of tools like hoes and plows, which increased crop yields. However, an Assyrian invasion cut short their influence in Egypt, and they lost power over their northern neighbors. Nevertheless, they gained knowledge of ironwork and used it to their advantage. Mesopotamia, on the other hand, experienced cyclical flooding from two rivers, the Tigris and Euphrates. They harnessed the flooding with canals, and the land was fertilized with rich silt, enabling them to grow barley, onions, grapes, apples, and turnips. Cattle and sheep grazed on fertile land, and fishermen made a living selling and trading their catch.

Cities like Ur and Babylon thrived on the water, thanks to the agricultural and trade possibilities. Success and power were facilitated by agricultural advancements and trade generated income to the cities. However, generations of overgrazing and tough farming depleted the nutrients in the land, causing erosion and desertification. Despite their tremendous advances in agricultural technology, these ancient cultures could not combat dust for long, leading to the downfall of their power and success.