The Cradle of Civilization Situated in a vast expanse of delta between the Tigris and the Euphrates rivers, Mesopotamia was the wellspring from which modern societies emerged. The land was very important because it’s where writing was first discovered 5000 years ago at Uruk, and where the seventh wonder of the world, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, is situated. It is important culturally because it was the center of the Islamic Empire (Khilafat), and Arab civilization for hundreds of years. It’s where science and culture prospered, where Arabic language has its two distinguished schools, Kufa and Basra, and where one of the oldest universities in the world was built, Al Mustansiriyya University in Baghdad. It is also important religiously, as it has the oldest established church in the world, The Church of the East, founded by St Thomas, one of Christ's 12 disciples. In addition, it has numerous Islamic holy sites such as Karbala, Najaf, and Baghdad. The holy city of Najaf is the study center of theology for the world's 150 million Muslims who follow the Shia tradition. Its people learned how to tame the dry land and draw sustenance from it. Tanks tread there and now companies pump oil from beneath the ancient soil. According to what Dr. Oguagha taught in History 101 class he said that much of the area lies in present day Iraq were it not for the Mesopotamians, that country or any other possibly wouldn't exist, at least not in a way we would recognize. During my research and with the help of the video the cradle of civilization I realized that Mesopotamia is generally credited with being the first place where civilized societies truly began to take shape. People around the world had been developing the groundwork for civilization for millennia. Agriculture there was established around 8000 B.C. The domestication of animals for labor and food developed