The Purpose
The purpose of irrigation and agriculture was the one piece of Mesopotamia that brought everything together. The real purpose was so that crops would get a good supply of water and make sure they lasted to the spring. This was important because these were the main factors of a stable food supply.
How it Helped
The land of Mesopotamia was very fertile due to the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, but was also very fertile because of the irrigation systems. Crops grew more productively, but only with water that was regulated by the canals, ditches, dams, levees, and basins. The purpose of agriculture and irrigation were the main parts of a stable food supply, and a stable food supply meant everything. Irrigation and agriculture in Mesopotamia had its problems, but in the end they helped create a characteristic of a civilization, a stable food supply.