Mesopotamia—literally “the land between rivers” in Greek—has long been called the birthplace of civilization. It was here, thousands of years ago, that humanity took some of its boldest steps forward: inventing writing, building cities, establishing laws, and shaping culture in ways that still echo in our lives today. It is recognised as the cradle of some of the world's earliest civilizations. [7] The Sumerians and Akkadians, each originating from different areas, dominated Mesopotamia from the beginning of recorded history (c. 3100 BC) to the fall of Babylon in 539 BC. The Mesopotamian civilization was located in the region between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, in what is modern-day Iraq, Kuwait, and parts of Syria and Turkey. This area is called the 'Fertile Crescent' because the two rivers flooded annually, depositing rich, fertile silt that made the land ideal for agriculture. This environmental advantage allowed for surplus food production, which was fundamental to the rise of the earliest cities and complex societies. It was home to some of the world’s earliest cities, governments, writing systems, and empires. Located between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers in what is now modern-day Iraq, Mesopotamia gave rise to powerful cultures like the Sumerians, Akkadians, Babylonians, and Assyrians.
