Iraq

In ancient times, the land that is now Iraq was known as Mesopotamia, meaning "land between the rivers," a region whose vast alluvial plains gave rise to some of the world's earliest civilizations, including those of Sumer, Akkad, Babylon, and Assyria. The fertile soil and abundant water supply made Mesopotamia an ideal place for agriculture, allowing the inhabitants to settle and develop complex societies. The region's strategic location, nestled between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, facilitated trade and cultural exchange with neighboring regions, further enriching the cultural tapestry of the area. The Sumerians, one of the earliest civilizations to emerge in Mesopotamia, are credited with numerous innovations that would shape the course of human history. They invented the wheel, developed cuneiform writing, and created sophisticated irrigation systems that allowed them to harness the region's natural resources. The Sumerians also made significant contributions to the fields of mathematics, astronomy, and law, laying the foundations for the development of modern civilization. As the Sumerians gave way to the Akkadians, Babylonians, and Assyrians, each civilization built upon the achievements of its predecessors, adding their own unique cultural, scientific, and artistic contributions. Today, Iraq's diverse biomes range from mountains in the north to marshes along the Euphrates and Tigris, while the west is dominated by desert and a few semiarid areas. Numerous Iraqi species were endangered, including seven of Iraq's mammal species and 12 of its bird species. The middle and southern Mesopotamian Marshes are home to about 50 bird species and rare fish species.