Mesopotamia: The Cradle of Civilization
For millennia, human societies developed gradually, from small groups of hunter-gatherers to settled communities. Yet, there was that one place where everything changed: Mesopotamia-sometimes called the Cradle of Civilization. Between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers in what is modern-day Iraq, Kuwait, and parts of Syria and Turkey, Mesopotamia nourished the rise of the world's first cities, legal codes, writing, and organized governments. Its inventions set the foundations for modern civilization. This article will outline the landscape, peoples, achievements, and enduring legacy of Mesopotamia. #1 Geography and the Importance of the Rivers: The word Mesopotamia comes from ancient Greek and means “land between the rivers.” This region falls into the Fertile Crescent, a landmass in a natural crescent shape that possesses rich soil and abundant water ideal for farming. The Tigris and Euphrates periodically flooded, depositing nutrient-rich silt onto th...