Included in area
of The Fertile Crescent and named "The Cradle of Civilization," Mesopotamia was a
desired designation for people to settle due to its fertile, rich soils and nearby water
sources, as well as its advancements in society. Mesopotamia was positioned between the
Euphrates and Tigris rivers in present-day Iraq, with the Mediterranean Sea and the Persian Gulf
nearby. While the geographic features of the area also include vast dry, desert sections
surrounded by mountain ranges, abundant oases exist in the area. Irrigation systems were easy to
establish in Mesopotamia because of the rivers running through the region.
With the establishment of irrigation systems, organized labor systems, and abundant
farming, Mesopotamia attracted people to settle in its borders. It became known as the cradle of
civilization due to its successful urban sectors. Mesopotamia claims the distinction of forming
the concept of the first city (or urban center) of the world. The area hosted diverse people
from many different cultures, allowing for cultural diffusion to occur.
Mesopotamia also attracted many people due to its abundance of centers for learning.
The area sponsored many temples and schools, in which people could pursue their intellectual
queries on religion, astrology, law, reading and writing, as well as medicine. Mesopotamia
claims the inventions of both writing and the wheel. Infrastructure (such as temples and homes)
for settlers was also established in Mesopotamia through ziggurats and homes made from reeds or
clay brick. Small cities emerged as people settled. Architecture became more advanced over
time.
As Mesopotamia grew, there was also a myriad of lucrative jobs for
travelers and settlers, including farming, weaving, fishing, healing, metalwork, teaching, and
serving as a priest or a scribe. Additionally, this land was attractive to women, as they had
unique rights and opportunities for that time and in that region: they could enter into
contracts, own land and businesses, and divorce.
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