Fertile Crescent

City-states of the Fertile Crescent in the 2nd millennium BCE The Fertile Crescent is a region in Western Asia . It includes the comparatively fertile regions of Mesopotamia and the Levant , delimited by the dry climate of the Syrian Desert to the south and the Anatolian highlands to the north. The region is often considered the cradle of civilization , saw the development of many of the earliest human civilizations, and is the birthplace of writing and the wheel . The term "Fertile Crescent" was coined by University of Chicago archaeologist James Henry Breasted in his Ancient Records of Egypt , first published in 1906. The region was so named due to its rich soil and crescent shape. Modern-day countries with significant territory within the Fertile Crescent are Iraq , Jordan , Lebanon , Syria , Israel and the Palestinian Territories , besides the southeastern fringe of Turkey and the western fringe of Iran .

The Fertile Crescent at maximum defined extent, with the names of ancient civilizations found there. The Fertile Crescent is a crescent -shaped region containing the comparatively moist and fertile land of otherwise arid and semi-arid Western Asia , the Nile Valley and Nile Delta of northeast Africa , it was also near Asia Minor or known as Anatolia . The term was popularized by University of Chicago archaeologist James Henry Breasted . Having originated in the study of ancient history , the concept soon developed and today retains meanings in international geopolitics and diplomatic relations . In current usage, all definitions of the Fertile Crescent include Mesopotamia , the land in and around the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. The modern-day countries with significant territory within the Fertile Crescent are Iraq , Kuwait , Syria , Lebanon , Jordan , Israel , Palestine , Cyprus , and Egypt , besides the southeastern fringe of Turkey and the western fringes of Iran . The region is often called the cradle of civilization ; it saw the development of some of the earliest human civilizations, which flourished thanks to the water supplies and agricultural resources available in the Fertile Crescent. Technological advances made in the region include the development of writing , glass , the wheel and the use of irrigation . The Essence of Anthropology (3rd ed.).

Crescent-shaped region containing the moist and fertile land of Western Asia, and the Nile Valley and Nile Delta of northeast Africa Further information: History of the Middle East Map showing the larger area including Cyprus The Fertile Crescent is a crescent -shaped region in the Middle East , spanning modern-day Iraq , Syria , Lebanon , Israel , Palestine , Jordan , the northeast and Nile valley regions of Egypt , together with the southeastern region of Turkey and the western fringes of Iran . The region has been called the " cradle of civilization " because it is where settled farming first emerged as people started the process of clearance and modification of natural vegetation in order to grow newly domesticated plants as crops . Early human civilizations such as Sumer in Mesopotamia flourished as a result. Technological advances in the region include the development of agriculture and the use of irrigation , of writing , the wheel , and glass , most emerging first in Mesopotamia . The Essence of Anthropology (3rd ed.).

Crescent-shaped fertile region within the Middle East Further information: History of the Middle East Map of the Fertile Crescent A 15th century copy of Ptolemy 's fourth Asian map, depicting the area known as the Fertile Crescent The Fertile Crescent ( , ) is a crescent-shaped region in the Middle East , spanning modern-day Iraq , Syria , Lebanon , Israel , Palestine and Jordan , together with the northern region of Kuwait , southeastern region of Turkey and the western portion of Iran . Some authors also include Cyprus and northern Egypt . The Fertile Crescent is believed to be the very first region where settled farming emerged as people started the process of clearance and modification of natural vegetation to grow newly domesticated plants as crops . Early human civilizations such as Sumer in Mesopotamia flourished as a result. Technological advances in the region include the development of agriculture and the use of irrigation , of writing , the wheel , and glass , most emerging first in Mesopotamia . The Essence of Anthropology (3rd ed.). The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica .

Region of the Middle East Further information: History of the Middle East Map of the Fertile Crescent A 15th century copy of Ptolemy 's fourth Asian map, depicting the area known as the Fertile Crescent The Fertile Crescent ( Arabic : الهلال الخصيب ) is a crescent-shaped region in the Middle East , spanning modern-day Iraq , Israel , Jordan , Lebanon , Palestine , and Syria , together with northern Kuwait , south-eastern Turkey , and western Iran . Some authors also include Cyprus and northern Egypt . The Fertile Crescent is believed to be the first region where settled farming emerged as people started the process of clearance and modification of natural vegetation to grow newly domesticated plants as crops . Early human civilizations such as Sumer in Mesopotamia flourished as a result. Technological advances in the region include the development of agriculture and the use of irrigation , of writing , the wheel , and glass , most emerging first in Mesopotamia . The Essence of Anthropology (3rd ed.). The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica .