What was ancient Mesopotamia?
Ancient Mesopotamia was a region between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, mostly in present-day Iraq. It is often called the cradle of civilization, where some of the first cities and writing appeared.
The name Mesopotamia comes from Greek words meaning between rivers. Fertile soil from the rivers allowed farming to flourish, and by about 3500 BC, the Sumerians had built cities such as Uruk and Ur. They developed one of the earliest writing systems, cuneiform, made by pressing wedge-shaped marks into clay tablets.
Over thousands of years, Mesopotamia was home to many cultures and empires, including the Akkadians, Babylonians and Assyrians. King Hammurabi of Babylon created one of the earliest written law codes around 1754 BC. The Epic of Gilgamesh, one of the world's oldest stories, also comes from Mesopotamia.
Lasting inventions
Mesopotamians were among the first to use the wheel, irrigation canals, sailboats and a number system based on 60. That system survives today in our 60-minute hours and 360-degree circles. They also built huge stepped temples called ziggurats.
Did You Know?
The Hanging Gardens of Babylon, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, are said to have been in Mesopotamia, though their location has never been proven.