The Tigris and Euphrates Rivers

There are few rivers in the world which can boast a history as long and as colorful as the Tigris and Eurphrates. Known in ancient times as Mesopotamia, the region between the two rivers and surrounding them is called the “Cradle of Civilization.” Sumer, the world’s first major civilization, originated and grew up on the banks of the two rivers because of the fertile soil the rivers helped to produce. Several other important civilizations, such as Babylonia and Assyria, followed Sumer in succeeding centuries. Many of the world’s most important inventions, such as writing, originated here. But all is not well with the rivers today. Several countries compete for the previous, life–giving water of the Tigris and Euphrates. Climate change threatens to reduce the amount of this water.