Subjects
Grades
The Emergence of Civilisations in Mesopotamia
Concept sheet | History
Secondary
1-2
Table of contents
The first civilisations officially marked the end of prehistory and the beginning of history, which began with the emergence of writing. The Mesopotamian civilization developed from 3500 BC and included, among others, the Sumerians, Akkadians, Babylonians and Assyrians. Mesopotamia is considered to be the cradle of civilisation.
The term civilisation refers to all the social, religious, intellectual, artistic, scientific and technical phenomena of a society.
Administrative tablet showing wages for various professions (around 2350 BC)
To find out more about the emergence of civilisations in Mesopotamia and the invention of writing, consult the following fact sheets:
The concepts covered in the following sheets go beyond those seen in secondary school. They are intended as a supplement for those who are curious to learn more.