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• Located between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, ancient Mesopotamia is believed to be the location of one of the earliest civilizations.History World: The Emergence of Mesopotamian Civilization Sumer, located in the southern part of Mesopotamia, is sometimes referred to as "The Cradle of Civilization."From Baghdad to New York: The Cradle of Civilization

• Achievements

  Mesopotamia's proximity to water allowed people to develop systems to irrigate their crops. As a result, they began to live together in groups, and societies started to form. In addition to irrigation, many other historically important advances were made in this area, including written language, the documentation of time and the use of the wheel for transport. The people of this region developed a rich body of literature and mythology, perhaps the most famous being The Epic of Gilgamesh. Their religion, including several gods and goddesses, was the first religion in recorded history.Ancient Civilizations: Religion in Mesopotamia The laws created by Hammurabi, who ruled from 1792-1750 BC, influenced many later governments.World History Sources: Hammurabi's Code

• Fast Facts:

  1. Meaning in Greek: "The land between two rivers"
  2. Location: Modern Iraq
  3. Major cities/regions: Sumer, Babylon, Uruk
  4. Languages: Akkadian, Aramaic, Elamite, Sumerian, Hittite, Hurrian
  5. Major kings: Gilgamesh, Hammurabi, Nebuchadnezzar II, Sargon of Akkad, Eannatum

• Time Periods:

  • 5000-4000 BC: Ubaid Period
  • 4000-2900 BC: Proto-Literate
  • 2900-2334 BC: Early Dynastic
  • 2334-2154 BC: Akkadian Empire
  • 2154-2112 BC: Guti Interregnum
  • 2112-2004 BC: Third Dynasty of Ur
  • 2025-1887 BC: Isin-Larsa
  • 2025-1365 BC: Old Assyria
  • 1994-1595 BC: Old Babylonian
  • 1700-1570 BC: Dynasty of the Sea-Land

  • 1570-689 BC: Middle Babylonia
  • 1365-883 BC: Middle Assyria
  • 883-609 BC: Neo-Assyria

  • 625-539 BC: Neo-Babylonian
  • 547-331 BC: Persian Empire

• Related Mahalo Pages

  Iraq | History of Iraq | Middle East | Byzantine Empire | Persian Empire | History of Iran

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