Thursday, November 5, 2009
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The word Mesopotamia is in origin a Greek name mesos middle and Potamos River so land between the rivers Civilization developed in Mesopotamia simultaneously with Egypt and the two are often called the fertile crescent. The Fertile Crescent is a rich food growing area in a part of the world where most of the land is too dry for farming. The Fertile Crescent begins on the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea, and curves around like a quarter moon to the Persian gulf.
The Greeks later called this region Mesopotamia, which means between the rivers. Many different civilizations developed in this small region. First came the Sumerians, who were replaced in turn by the Assyrians and the Babylonians. Mesopotamia is famous for the site of some of the oldest civilizations in the world.
Early civilizations first developed in Mesopotamia over six thousand years ago. Some of the first cities were established, a writing system was developed, empires were created and monumental buildings were constructed.
As each new group of people moved into the region, or took control of the government, they adopted some of the culture. Therefore, certain aspect of civilization in Mesopotamia remained the same, and some changed over time.
Much of Mesopotamian history lay buried beneath the sand and soil for thousands of years. However, there were clues, such as the mounds known as tells and the ruins of ziggurats, that treasures lay below the surface. In the past two hundred years, people have begun to excavate objects and buildings which reveal the ancient history of this region.
Writings from Mesopotamia uruk. modern warka are among the earliest known in the world, giving Mesopotamia a reputation of being the Cradle of Civilization.
It is said that Mesopotamia was the place of the legendary Garden of Eden.
Mesopotamia does not refer to any particular civilization. Over the course of several millennia, many civilizations developed, collapsed, and were replaced in this region including the Sumerians - Akkadians - Babylonians and Assyrians.
Mesopotamia had no natural boundaries and was difficult to defend. The influence of neighboring counties is large. Throughout the history of Mesopotamia trade contacts, slow diffusion of foreign tribes and military confrontations had been of great influence.
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laura
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