Mesopotamia

Ancient Mesopotamia is referred to as the birthplace of human history because it was home to some of the early human civilizations on Earth, including the Sumerians, Assyrians, and Babylonians. Mesopotamia was located in the area known today as the Middle East between two large rivers. It has mountainous land with a desert-like hot and dry climate. The word "Mesopotamia," is an ancient Greek name that is sometimes translated as "the land between two rivers." The land between them is called the Fertile Crescent because these two Mesopotamian Rivers made the land in this valley fertile and allowed agricultural societies to be established.

On the eastern flank of Mesopotamia runs the Tigris River and on the western flank the Euphrates River. The Tigris River flows south from Lake Hazer, a mountainous region in Turkey, into Syria and Iraq. The Tigris River is approximately 1,180 miles long (1,900 km) and has a fast-paced current. The name of the Tigris River comes from the word, Idigna, a Sumerian word for swift river. The Euphrates River also originates from Turkey. It flows south through Turkey, Syria, and Iraq. The Euphrates River is longer and wider than the Tigris River, measuring 1,740 miles (2,800 km), and also has a slower moving current. In the southern region of Iraq, the Tigris River meets with the Euphrates River, and together these rivers flow into the Persian Gulf.

Below is a map of Mesopotamia showing the location of Assyria, Babylonia, Sumer and the Tigris and Euphrates rivers (Elam, Medes, Parthians and Persians will be covered under Iran):

It is believed that civilization in Mesopotamia emerged around 4,500 BCE. Sumer was the earliest known civilization in Mesopotamia. The Sumer city-states, in various form, lasted until around 1,900 BCE. It was replaced by Babylon and Assyria. In 538 BCE, Cyrus the Great of Persia conquered the land of Mesopotamia. From that time on, Mesopotamia was ruled by various outside powers until the modern time.

Below is a book on Mesopotamia:

Ancient Mesopotamia -- Portrait of a Dead Civilization     (file size approximately 14 MB)