Ancient Mesopotamia
The Land Between Two Rivers

Ancient Mesopotamia covered an area that was about 300 miles long and about 150 miles wide. The villages, towns and cities in ancient Mesopotamia were built between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. These two rivers flowed into the Persian Gulf. With all this water, it's no wonder the ancient Mesopotamians invented the first sailboat. They also invented the wheel, the plow, the first written language, and the first super hero - Gilgamesh! They made beautiful pottery and built homes of sun-baked brick. They even built a library.

Ancient Mesopotamia is composed of three main civilizations - ancient Sumer, ancient Babylon, and ancient Assyria. These were the first real civilizations in ancient times. That's why ancient Mesopotamia is nicknamed the Cradle (or birth) of Civilization. It's other nickname is "the land between two rivers".