History of Mesopotamia

Mesopotamia, located between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, is one of the cradles

of civilization. Its history begins around 3500 BCE with the rise of Sumer, a region

renowned for its advancements in writing, architecture, and governance. The

Sumerians developed cuneiform writing, essential for administration and knowledge

transmission. City-states like Ur, Uruk, and Eridu flourished, each with its own

government and deities.

Around 2334 BCE, Sargon of Akkad founded the Akkadian Empire, unifying much of

Mesopotamia under a single rule. This empire innovated in centralized

administration and permanent military forces. After its fall, the Babylonian Empire

emerged under Hammurabi (1792-1750 BCE), famous for his legal code, one of the

oldest in the world.

Later, the Assyrians dominated the region, notable for their military power and

efficient administration. Ashurbanipal (668-627 BCE) established a great library in

Nineveh, preserving valuable texts. Finally, the Persian Empire conquered

Mesopotamia in the 6th century BCE, incorporating it into a larger entity.