What are the Modern Mesopotamia Countries

Modern Mesopotamia is the country now known as Iraq. The region, which once heralded the birth of a very rich civilization, contributed much to the world. It is now a place ravaged by warfare for the last decade. The place formed the cradle of the Assyrian, Babylonian and Sumerian civilizations. In Greek, Mesopotamia means the ‘land between the rivers’.

Modern Mesopotamia comprises not only modern day Iraq, but also the area around the famous Euphrates and Tigris rivers. Even parts of the north and east of Syria as well as some parts of south east Turkey, is also considered part of what was Mesopotamia in ancient times. In ancient times, groups of hunters and gatherers settled between the two great rivers to form the greatest human civilization.

If you turn on your TV, you will find the greatest civilization known to humans is under duress and struggling to stay afloat under repeated foreign and domestic threats. Death and suffering is the order of the day in Iraq which was very much a part of the ancient Mesopotamian civilization.

The geographical advantages of Mesopotamia allowed the hunters to give up their nomadic lifestyle and concentrate on creating a stable statehood, law and culture.

Triggered future civilizations:

The civilization created by the people triggered future civilizations in the west and the east. There were many exchanges during the period which led to a further enrichment of the culture.

Civilizations have always prospered on the banks of the famous rivers and ancient Mesopotamia was no exception. The rivers always were a mixed blessing. The strip of land in ancient Mesopotamia known as the Fertile Crescent includes parts of Syria, Lebanon and Israel as well.

Rivers not only flooded the region resulting in destruction of crops, but also provided a route for invaders to come in as well. The flooding also deposited silt that always kept the land fertile for a prolonged period. The channel also acted as a convenient route for trade with other countries and communities that prospered in the region and the people soon evolved into famous philosophers, lawmakers and leaders.