History glossary
Irrigation
the controlled movement of water onto fields so crops can grow where rainfall is limited.
- Category
- Agricultural technology
- Region
- Ancient Mesopotamia and many other farming regions
What it means
Irrigation uses canals, channels, ditches, or pumps to bring water to crops. In southern Mesopotamia, where rainfall was low, irrigation from the Tigris and Euphrates made dense settlement and surplus agriculture possible.
Related terms
Stories using this term
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