Mesopotamia is a historic region of West Asia within the Tigris-Euphrates river system, which is thought to be one of the places where early civilization developed. The name Mesopotamia means "between rivers" in Greek, referring to the land between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. It is a region that produced multiple empires and civilizations rather than any single civilization. Some of the most influential early city-states and empires first emerged in Mesopotamia, making it a melting pot of languages and cultures that stimulated a lasting impact on writing, technology, language, trade, religion, and law.

Mesopotamia was home to many different civilizations spanning thousands of years, including the Sumerians, Akkadians, Assyrians, Babylonians, and Persians. These civilizations contributed significantly to world culture and progress, and many of the aspects of daily life taken for granted in the present day, such as writing, the wheel, a code of laws, the sail, the concept of the 24-hour day, beer-brewing, civil rights, and irrigation of crops, were first developed in Mesopotamia.

Mesopotamia was also a battleground between different empires, including the Romans and Parthians, with western parts of the region coming under ephemeral Roman control. The region fell to the Sassanid Persians in 226 AD. Mesopotamias influence extended throughout the Middle East and as far as the Indus valley, Egypt, and the Mediterranean.

In summary, Mesopotamia is a historic region of West Asia within the Tigris-Euphrates river system, which is known as the cradle of civilization and home to many different civilizations spanning thousands of years. It is famous for its contributions to world culture and progress, including the development of writing, the wheel, a code of laws, and irrigation of crops.