Mesopotamia and Persia
Mesopotamia and Persia are two ancient civilizations that played a significant role in shaping the world as we know it. Mesopotamia, located in the region of modern-day Iraq, was known for its advanced irrigation systems, cuneiform writing, and the invention of the wheel. Persia, located in modern-day Iran, was known for its vast empire, impressive architecture, and contributions to art and literature. Both civilizations have left a lasting impact on history and continue to be studied and admired today.
Here we focus on the art of two ancient civilizations- Mesopotamia and Persia. Writing was invented in Mesopotamia around 3400 BCE, and the prehistoric world was quickly left behind. Writing was an excellent communication tool and also enabled humans to leave a recorded history behind. Mesopotamia was located between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers in parts of what is today Iran, Iraq, Syria and Turkey. It became the birthplace of agriculture, mathematics and the world’s first cities and governments. The Achaemenid Empire of ancient Persia conquered Mesopotamia and stretched all the way from today’s India and Pakistan to Egypt and parts of coastal Greece. Along with transformative inventions and modernizations, both of these civilizations produced incredible innovations in art.