Final answer:
The curving strip of farmland where Mesopotamia is located is known as the Fertile Crescent, and early Mesopotamians primarily engaged in agriculture, managed large-scale irrigation systems, and practiced trade, craft specialization, and artistic production.
Step-by-step explanation:
The curving strip of farmland where Mesopotamia is located is commonly known as the Fertile Crescent. This term comes from the region's shape on the map, resembling a crescent and its highly fertile soil, which was particularly suitable for agriculture.
Mesopotamia, meaning “land between rivers,” is situated between the major rivers Tigris and Euphrates, in present-day Iraq, and is often referred to as the cradle of civilization.
Early Mesopotamians had various occupations, primarily centered around agriculture due to the abundance of water and fertile lands that facilitated farming.
However, since Mesopotamia lacked other resources such as wood, precious metals, and natural stone, the Mesopotamians engaged in long-distance trade of agricultural products to acquire these materials.
The society also saw a high level of craft specialization and artistic production, underpinned by a strong administrative class that managed the large-scale irrigation systems and labor force required for extensive farming.
Significant cities like Ur, Babylon, and Nineveh flourished because of the innovative use of water for irrigation, the ability to store grain, and the surplus of food that supported the development of a military.
Thus, the early Mesopotamians were not only farmers but also traders, administrators, craftsmen, and soldiers who contributed to the growth of early urban centers and civilizations.