Food

The people of Mesopotamia depended on the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers, but these rivers could be unpredictable — sometimes gentle, sometimes destroying everything in their path. Farmers dug long canals to guide the floodwaters to their fields and invented irrigation systems to water crops year-round.

They grew wheat, barley, dates, beans, onions, lentils, and cucumbers, and raised sheep, goats, cows, and pigs. Their meals often included stews, bread, cheese, and fruit, flavored with garlic and herbs. The water from the rivers was not always safe to drink — it carried dirt and germs — so people drank beer made from barley, which was safer because the brewing process killed bacteria. Even children drank a watered-down version!