Ask the Chatbot Games & Quizzes History & Society Science & Tech Biographies Animals & Nature Geography & Travel Arts & Culture ProCon Money Videos
Britannica Sources used in this answer

Where was ancient Mesopotamia located on a modern map?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Historical map showing ancient Mesopotamia with labeled locations of major archaeological and historical sites. Symbols and color codes indicate sites from the prehistoric era, Sumerian-Akkadian culture, Babylonian and Neo-Babylonian eras, Assyrian civilization, Hurrian era, late Persian, Greek, and Parthian eras, as well as marshland areas. The map covers the region between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, including present-day Iraq and surrounding areas.
history of Mesopotamia

Ancient Mesopotamia was a historical region in southwestern Asia, situated between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. On a modern map, this area primarily corresponds to the nation of Iraq.123

Broadly defined, the region also encompasses parts of several neighboring countries, including:

  • Syria: Specifically the eastern portions.12
  • Turkey: Specifically the southeastern regions.12
  • Iran: Specifically areas bordering the Zagros Mountains.24

The name Mesopotamia is derived from a Greek term meaning "between rivers," reflecting its geography as the cradle of early civilizations such as the Sumerians, Akkadians, Babylonians, and Assyrians.12