Mesopotamia (Greek, "between the rivers"), strictly speaking, designates the alluvial plain lying between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers (in modern Iraq and Syria). More commonly, Mesopotamia refers to these river plains in totality - not merely the land between the two rivers - as well as the surrounding lowland territories bounded by the Arabian Desert to the west and south, the Persian Gulf to the immediate south, the Zagros Mountains and the Caucasus mountains to the north.

Writings from Mesopotamia (Uruk) are the earliest written work in the world, giving Mesopotamia the reputation of being the cradle of civilization.

Mesopotamia was settled by, and conquered by, numerous ancient civilizations, including Sumer, Akkad, Babylon and Assyria. Peoples who threatened or invaded these lands include the Hittites, the Elam and the Persian Empire.

These civilizations arose from earlier settlements and cultures which were among the first to make use of agriculture.

• Neolithic settlements e.g., Jarmo, Tell Abu Hureyra
• Hassuna period
• Halaf period (or Halafian)
• Samarra period (or Samarran), e.g., Choga Mami
• Ubaid period, e.g., Eridu
• Uruk period, named after the city Uruk.
• Sumerian Early Dynastic period

Cities and sites with settlements in this region in these periods include:

• Lagash
• Ur
• Nippur

See also Levant, History of Levant, Deities, Sumerian mythology, Madan, Cradle of Humanity