original_query: What geographical factors contributed to the rise of civilization in the Fertile Crescent?
query: What geographical factors contributed to the rise of civilization in the Fertile Crescent?
answer: The Fertile Crescent's location as a bridge between North Africa and Eurasia contributed to its biodiversity.  The region's rivers (Tigris, Euphrates, Jordan), marshlands, and varied elevation provided diverse climates and many edible plants, including the eight Neolithic founder crops and four of the five most important domesticated animals.  The availability of water sources also played a significant role.