Mesopotamia was an ancient region located between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. It was in an area that is now part of modern-day Iraq. This region is often called the “cradle of civilization.”

Early cities such as Ur and Babylon developed there around 3000 BCE. People in Mesopotamia created one of the first writing systems, called cuneiform. The land between the rivers supported farming and settlement.

Mesopotamia is studied in history and archaeology. Evidence includes ruins, clay tablets, and records of early cities and systems.