Mesopotamia

[ mes-uh-puh-tey-mee-uh ]

noun

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

Mesopotamia

/ 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

Mesopotamia

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.

Other Words From

• Meso·po·tami·an adjective noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of Mesopotamia¹

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

Example Sentences

The Sumerians of Mesopotamia devised a love song by around 2000 BCE, and scholars of Ancient Egypt have found love songs inscribed into pottery and written on sheets of papyrus.

From Los Angeles Times

Mostly Christian, Assyrians are native to what was historically Mesopotamia, modern-day Iraq and parts of Iran, Turkey and Syria.

From BBC

Analysis linked it to the "powerful" Bronze Age Marhasi civilisation that flourished in that part of Mesopotamia at the time.

From BBC

The team analysed the latent magnetic signature in grains of iron oxide minerals embedded in 32 clay bricks originating from archaeological sites throughout Mesopotamia, which now overlaps with modern day Iraq.

From Science Daily

She discovered that of the 114 names on the town's war memorial, 35 died in action at Gallipoli and Gaza, but also in Egypt, Mesopotamia and Thessaloniki, Greece.

From BBC