Which country is called the Cradle of Civilisation?

Mesopotamia, located between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers in what is now known as Iraq—is often called the cradle of civilisation because, as it was the earliest place where complex urban centres supposedly developed. This rich landscape supported early farming, permanent settlements, and the rise of some of humanity’s earliest advanced societies. Today, Iraq is acknowledged as the birthplace of several of the world’s first major civilisations.A birthplace of civilisation refers to a region where a complex society emerged independently of others. Such civilisations are distinguished by the establishment of the state, social hierarchy, urbanisation, and advanced forms of communication beyond spoken language, most notably writing and graphic arts. Scholars generally identify six cradles of civilisation. In Afro-Eurasia, these are Mesopotamia, Ancient Egypt, Ancient India, and Ancient China—considered the earliest. In the Americas, the Caral–Supe civilization of coastal Peru and the Olmec civilization of Mexico are regarded as the first.All of these early civilizations were built on agricultural systems that produced the surpluses needed to support central leadership, religious elites, and the large public works that shaped their urban centres. Caral–Supe, however, appears to have depended more on marine resources than on agriculture in its earliest phases.Read more: From Assam to Kerala: How Indian states got their names Mesopotamia, covering modern-day Iraq and stretching into parts of southeast Turkey, northeast Syria and northwest Iran, emerged as one of the world’s earliest hubs of prosperity largely thanks to the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. These twin rivers enriched the region with nutrient-rich soil and a reliable water supply, making it perfect for agriculture. By around 8000 BC, Neolithic groups had begun settling in the area, giving rise to some of the first known farming communities. This shift from a roaming lifestyle to organised agriculture is what earned Mesopotamia, and the wider Fertile Crescent, its enduring title as the “cradle of civilisation.”The Ubaid period (c. 6500–3800 BC) is the earliest recognisable cultural phase on the Mesopotamian alluvial plain, however additional earlier occupations presumably occur beneath subsequent layers of silt. Communities started to move towards urbanisation throughout the Ubaid period. Agriculture and animal husbandry were widely practiced, notably in northern Mesopotamia (later known as Assyria), while intensive irrigated agriculture took shape in the southern plains.Read more: Not just Kainchi Dham: 3 other places with ashrams associated Neem Karoli Baba Mesopotamia is a land of sharp contrasts, harsh deserts and rugged mountains bordering fertile river valleys. The development of large irrigation systems, especially in southern Mesopotamia, allowed early communities to turn river water into agricultural abundance.With little local supply of stone, metal, or timber, Mesopotamia relied on long-distance trade, exchanging grain for crucial resources. The earliest true cities were shaped by this early administrative framework, which was necessary to manage trade, agriculture, and irrigation.A thriving artistic tradition and highly trained craftspeople were supported by plentiful food supply and well-organised governance. This mix of municipal planning, labour specialisation, and cultural innovation is what gives Mesopotamia its defining place as the earliest cradle of civilisation in Western historical view.