What Was the Fertile Crescent?

Bible History & Geography

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, the 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 clearing and modifying 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 of which emerged first in Mesopotamia.

Source: Wikipedia.

The arc of the Fertile Crescent is defined not only by temperature and rainfall but also by elevation. The crescent follows a portion of the southern edge of a large band of mountains that stretches from the Alps in southern Europe to Persia (Iran).

When people traveled from the Holy Land area to Babylon and vice versa, they would have followed the land and rivers of the Fertile Crescent. Here on the map below, you can see the journey that Abraham, his father Terah, and his nephew Lot followed, from Ur of Chaldees to Haran, Abraham’s father’s home. After Terah died, God called Abraham down to the land of Canaan, which would be in the area of Shechem on the map below.

If you liked this article, please consider subscribing. There are free and paid options.
It will ensure that you receive email notifications as new articles are added.

Also, feel free to “like”, share this article, or leave a comment. See below.
This helps me to know what content you like. Thanks! :)