Mesopotamia

American  

[mes-uh-puh-tey-mee-uh] / ˌmɛs ə pəˈteɪ mi ə /

noun

1. an ancient region in W Asia between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers: now part of Iraq.

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Mesopotamia British  

/ ˌmɛsəpəˈteɪmɪə /

noun

1. a region of SW Asia between the lower and middle reaches of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers: site of several ancient civilizations

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Mesopotamia Cultural  

1. A region of western Asia, in what is now Iraq, known as the “cradle of civilization.” Western writing first developed there, done with sticks on clay tablets. Agricultural organization on a large scale also began in Mesopotamia, along with work in bronze and iron (see Bronze Age and Iron Age). Governmental systems in the region were especially advanced (see Babylon (see also Babylon) and Hammurabi). A number of peoples lived in Mesopotamia, including the Sumerians, Akkadians, Hittites, and Assyrians.

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Other Word Forms

• Mesopotamian adjective

Etymology

Origin of Mesopotamia

Latin from Greek mesopotamia ( khora ) (the land) between rivers

Example Sentences

Centered in Persia, that empire at its peak included Egypt, Mesopotamia, the Levant, Anatolia, and parts of Eastern Arabia and Central Asia.

From Science Daily

Founded around 2000 BCE in Mesopotamia, Babylon grew into the largest city of its time and became a thriving center of culture and scholarship.

From Science Daily

A newly published study is reshaping how scientists understand the rise of urban civilization in ancient Mesopotamia.

From Science Daily

Similar anxieties entered the literary record in Mesopotamia and were picked up in the ancient literary traditions of India and China.

From The Wall Street Journal

He died between 4,500 and 4,800 years ago, a transformational moment in the emergence of Egypt and Mesopotamia.

From BBC