Mesopotamia

ancient history · rivers · first cities

Land between rivers. The name Mesopotamia means 'between rivers,' because it sits between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers in West Asia.

Fertile Crescent. It lies in the northern part of the Fertile Crescent, an area with rich soil that was great for growing crops.

Modern-day Iraq. This ancient region matches up roughly with the country of Iraq today.

Edge of a plateau. Just past Mesopotamia lies southwestern Iran, where the land rises into the Persian plateau.