Tigris and Euphrates – usually in this order, from east to west, two great rivers are mentioned. The fact is that a huge number of civilizations lived between these two rivers, and the place itself is called Mesopotamia. Now, Mesopotamia is understood mainly as a valley in the lower reaches of these rivers, and lands are added to it east of the Tigris and west of the Euphrates. In general, this region coincides with the territory of modern Iraq, with the exception of mountainous regions along the borders of this country with Iran and Turkey. Tigris and Euphrates played an enormous role in the development of the economy and culture of Mesopotamia.
Most of the elongated valley, especially the whole of Lower Mesopotamia, was covered for a long time by sediments brought by both rivers from the Armenian Highlands. Over time, fertile alluvial soils began to attract the population of other regions. Since ancient times, farmers have learned to compensate for scarce rainfall by creating irrigation facilities (Hansen and Curtis 32). The absence of stone and wood gave impetus to the development of trade with lands rich in these natural resources. The Tigris and Euphrates turned out to be convenient waterways connecting the Persian Gulf region with Anatolia and the Mediterranean (Sevenearths 2010). The geographical position and natural conditions allowed the valley to become a center of attraction for people and an area for the development of trade.
For ancient civilizations, like the Sumerians, this place was ambiguous. In addition to its fertility and favorable location, Mesopotamia also had a cultural contribution. For example, the rivers themselves, because of their unusual position, were considered divine, giving strength and controlled by the god of the storm (Hansen and Curtis 36). Another interpretation of the rivers allowed the peoples to create a theory about the origin of God in the region of these places (Sevenearths 2010). In addition, due to a large number of clay, writing appeared, implemented by the Sumerians on clay tablets (Sevenearths2010 2012). Thus, the influence of the Tigris and Euphrates on civilization has several directions at once, from economic to cultural.
Work Cited
Hansen, Valerie, and Ken Curtis. Voyages in World History (3rd ed.). Cengage Learning, 2016.
Sevenearths2010. (2012). Legacy origins of civilization [Video]. YouTube. Web.