Final answer:
The Zagros and Taurus mountain ranges, along with deserts, separated the western and eastern regions of the Fertile Crescent, influencing the development of distinct civilizations with their own cultural and political identities.
Step-by-step explanation:
The geographic features that separated the western and eastern parts of the Fertile Crescent were significant natural barriers that influenced the development of early civilizations in the region.
The Zagros Mountains and vast deserts acted as natural dividers between the western and eastern parts of the Fertile Crescent.
The Fertile Crescent is a region known historically for its rich soil and conducive climate for agriculture, leading to the development of some of the earliest civilizations. Nestled between the deserts of Arabia and the highlands of Anatolia and Iran, its eastern and western parts were essentially partitioned by the Zagros and Taurusmountain ranges, as well as large sweeps of arid land. These natural borders facilitated the emergence of distinct civilizations with particular cultural, social, and political developments. The Zagros Mountains, in particular, stretch for over 900 miles, reaching elevations of more than 14,000 feet. Iran's mountain ranges, which include the Zagros, served a vital role in the growth of urban centers by trapping moisture necessary for agriculture, while the complex systems of qanats enabled the transportation of water to the valleys for irrigation, sustaining the settled populations. Geographical isolation shaped distinct societies, each developing unique responses to their environment and leading to a variety of city-states and empires historically.