Cities
Mesopotamia was the home of not only one civilization, but many empires which occupied different parts of the area at different times. This area is considered the “cradle of civilization”, and with that title came one of the key features of being a civilization, cities. It is very likely that a group of hunter-gatherers saw the surplus of food they could produce within the area enclosed by the two rivers, and decided to settle down and focus on agriculture at around 10,000 B.C.E. During a period of drought, it is said that many of these small farming villages grouped together to increase food output, thus forming the Sumerian capital of Ur. It eventually became known for its then large population of about 65, 000, and the great temples known as ziggurats that they built to their gods. Another famous city from the ancient times in this area was Babylon. A small town at first quickly grew into the capital of Babylonia. Within this city’s wall was a great population and a temple to the sacred god Marduk.