Learn about the first urban civilization in world history, its geography, language, writing, and political development. Explore maps, timelines, and articles on Mesopotamian culture and society. It is recognised as the cradle of some of the world's earliest civilizations. [7] The Sumerians and Akkadians, each originating from different areas, dominated Mesopotamia from the beginning of recorded history (c. 3100 BC) to the fall of Babylon in 539 BC. The Civilization of Mesopotamia ranges from the earliest human occupation in the Paleolithic period up to Late antiquity. This history is pieced together from evidence retrieved from archaeological excavations and, after the introduction of writing in the late 4th millennium BC, an increasing amount of historical sources. Mesopotamia is the region within the Tigris and Euphrates rivers that hosted the earliest large-scale civilizations (Sumeria, Akkadia, Assyria, and Babylon)
