Unit Description

The earliest known civilizations developed along the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, which begin in the mountains of eastern Turkey. The twin rivers flow more than 1,000 miles southeast across a great plain in an area know as the Middle East. Then, the waters join and empty into the Persian Gulf. Today, the land between the rivers is part of the country of Iraq. In ancient times the area was called Mesopotamia, "the land between the rivers."

Around 4000 B.C., groups of people began migrating into Mesopotamia. They developed so many new ideas that the area has been called the "the Cradle of Civilization," and "the Fertile Crescent." The influence of Mesopotamia left a lasting impact on the ancient world.