When did Mesopotamia become a civilization???

Question

I need to know the year for an essay that I am writing for AP World History. I have heard dates ranging from 5000 BC (political connections between city-states) to 3500 BC (first writing system). Please answer! Thank you in advance!

Answer 1

it began at around 5000BC but came into its own at around 3000BC so i would use 5000 BC because it is still referred to as a civilization at that time. checkout the link

Answer 2

It's not possible to choose a year when the Mesopotamian civilization began. The best guess would be between 3500 to 3200 B.C. I would say civization begins with the invention of writing and the birth of agriculture. Most historians agree that history begins at Sumer. This was the first known political unit to exist in Mesopotamia. Writing was begun to record inventory. With writing begins history. Ancient Egypt begins at about the same time. Of course the human race is much older than this. In many parts of the world including Mesopotamia people congregated together for protection in villages. Traces of human habitation and prehistoruc sites go way back, even 10,000 B.C. or more. But 3500 to 3200 B.C. is probably the best bet for the beginning of civilization. I hope that this has been a help to you.