Question

Which physical feature would make it difficult for outsiders to attack a settlement in the Fertile Crescent?

Answer 1

Step-by-step explanation:

The Fertile Crescent, which is located in the Middle East, is characterized by its hilly terrain and river valleys. The physical feature that would make it difficult for outsiders to attack a settlement in this region is the presence of natural barriers such as mountains, rivers, and valleys. Settlements located in areas surrounded by these features are naturally protected from potential invaders, making it difficult for outsiders to launch an attack. Additionally, the hilly terrain makes it difficult for outsiders to navigate and approach settlements undetected. Therefore, the geography of the Fertile Crescent provides a natural defense against external attacks.

Answer 2

Difficult geography and natural defenses such as deserts, rivers, and man-made fortifications like walls and ditches, protected settlements in the Fertile Crescent from attack.

Step-by-step explanation:

The physical feature that made it difficult for outsiders to attack a settlement in the Fertile Crescent was the region's challenging geography and natural defenses. One example is the desert of the Sinai Peninsula, which acted as a barrier between Egypt and the civilizations of Mesopotamia and Anatolia. This roughly 120 miles of desert was a formidable obstacle to potential invaders, limiting cross-regional contact and incursions. Similarly, Jericho, another settlement in the broader region of the Fertile Crescent, leveraged natural fortifications like a large ditch and a thick stone wall that encircled the settlement for defense.

Additionally, the unpredictable flooding of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers could create natural barriers. The natural defenses contributed to the growth and stability of cities such as Ur, Babylon, and Nineveh which developed along these riverbanks.