Mesopotamia and the Fertile Crescent

Before they settled down in various parts of the world, humans lived as nomads for tens of thousands of years. Nomads are people who have no permanent home and travel in search of food and safety. A typical nomadic group might include an extended family of about ten adults and their children. They would temporarily camp in an area for a few weeks or months -- the men hunting animals and the women gathering fruit, grains, seeds and nuts. advertisement Civilization developed slowly in different parts of the world. The Fertile Crescent is a boomerang-shaped region that extends from the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea to the Persian Gulf. Some of the best farmland of the Fertile Crescent is on a narrow strip of land between the Tigris and the Euphrates Rivers. Many different civilizations flourished in this small region.

Index Ancient Iraq (Mesopotamia) - Ancient Civilizations for Kids Around 3500 BCE, people were growing more food than they needed, which allowed the division of labor. People were living in multiple cities with governments and religions. A written language developed around 3300 BCE—civilization is official! The first civilization to develop was called Sumer in southern Mesopotamia. Sumer was a collection of city-states, most of them with thick defensive walls because the city-states were often at war with one another. Major cities included Eridu, Uruk, Ur, and Lagash. Mesopotamia invented new technology. In Sumer, the city became the center of trade, religious, and social life. The religion was slightly different in each city-state, but all of them were polytheistic. Over five thousand years ago, people living in Mesopotamia developed a form of writing to record different types of information. The countryside farmers grew food for themselves and everyone in the city. Babylon became known for impressive architecture and its laws and government.

History for Kids: Ancient Mesopotamia Ancient Mesopotamia refers to the place where humans first formed civilizations. It was here that people first gathered in large cities, learned to write, and created governments. For this reason Mesopotamia is often called the "Cradle of Civilization". Map of Mesopotamia by Atanas Kostovski Geography The word Mesopotamia means "the land between rivers". The heart of Mesopotamia lies between the two rivers in southern Iraq. Civilizations and Empires Early settlers in Mesopotamia started to gather in small villages and towns. Sumer - The Sumerians were the first humans to form a civilization. Akkadians - The Akkadians came next. Babylonians - The city of Babylon became the most powerful city in Mesopotamia. Assyrians - The Assyrians came out of the northern part of Mesopotamia. Persians - The Persians put an end to the rule of the Assyrians and the Babylonians. Interesting Facts About Mesopotamia Learn More about Ancient Mesopotamia: Works Cited Back to History