The earliest civilization in Asia arose around 3500 BCE in Mesopotamia meaning "land between the rivers" because of its convenient location between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. This river valley region's rich soil and access to waterways made early civilization thrive on agriculture and trade. Although much has changed since its beginnings, the Mesopotamian River Valley has continued to grow and develop as a civilization to this day. During the time period 2000 BCE to present, Mesopotamia has changed geographically, religiously, and economically, but the rich resource of the Tigris and the Euphrates river has stayed the same.
Around 2000 BCE, Mesopotamia's city-states of prospered because of their geographic location along the Tigris and Euphrates River, but Mesopotamia is now divided among separate countries. In the midst of the dry desert climate, the fertile crescent of Mesopotamia attracted early man's inhabitance because of its access to the river highways. The rivers' annual flooding left a layer of rich fertile ground for the growth of agriculture, and the river's ease of access helped farmers trade food surpluses for other necessary goods and travel across long distances. Because of its resourceful geographic location, many successful city-states such as Sumer, Akkad, Assyria, Assur, Ninevah, Ur, Uruk, Mari, and Babylon were developed as the population grew. In current day the geography of the region has changed over time from a series of cities to its current day countries. Today, the Tigris and Euphrates start in the mountains of modern day Turkey, and flow southeast through Syria, Iraq, and parts of Iran. Additionally The population has grown significantly since ancient Mesopotamia which has lead to the growth of villages, towns, and cities throughout Mesopotamia in current day. On the other hand, one thing that has continued from Ancient Mesopotamia to current day is its lack