Urban civilization rose on the back of tides in Southern Mesopotamia

The First Civilization in Ancient Mesopotamia Thrived Thanks to Rivers and Tides

Learn how the first civilization in Mesopotamia depended on tides and how it responded when faced with a major environmental challenge.

Urban civilization rose on the back of tides in Southern Mesopotamia

A newly published study challenges long-held assumptions about the origins of urban civilization in ancient Mesopotamia, suggesting that the rise of Sumer was driven by the dynamic interplay of rivers, tides, and sediments at the head of the Persian Gulf.

How tides shaped the rise of ancient Sumer, the world’s first civilization, new study reveals

A new study is rewriting the history of ancient Sumer’s rise, long considered the cradle of civilization. The study, which was published in PLOS One, argues that the interplay of tides, rivers, and shifting coastlines at the head of the Persian Gulf played a determining role in establishing agriculture and urban life in Mesopotamia. The […]

Urban Civilization Rose in Southern Mesopotamia on the Back of Tides

A newly published study challenges long-held assumptions about the origins of urban civilization in ancient Mesopotamia, suggesting that the rise of Sumer was driven by the dynamic interplay of rivers, tides, and sediments at the head of the Persian Gulf.

Urban civilization rose in Southern Mesopotamia on the back of tides

A newly published study challenges long-held assumptions about the origins of urban civilization in ancient Mesopotamia