ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Cradle of civilization

The cradle of civilization is a term used to refer to the region where civilization or complex societies first started. This area was around the rivers Tigris and Euphrates in what is now Iraq. People in this area were the first to develop agriculture, build cities, create government systems, and have a writing system. Other areas, such as China and Egypt, soon followed. All of these civilizations and advances have shaped the world we live in!