Modern civilization as we know it began as a group of dilapidated huts in the ancient region of Mesopotamia. Flowing from the mountains of modern Turkey, the Tigris and Euphrates rivers created a favorable environment for colonization. Groups of wandering people stumbled upon this fertile land. Warm temperatures allowed permanent civilization to begin. Mesopotamia is a region that has a great deal of geographic variety combined into a single expanse of land. There are rivers, valleys, mountains, floodplains, deserts and swamps dotted throughout the region. However, the most important monuments of all are the Tigris and Euphrates. Without their annual flood, ancient humans would have struggled to survive. In addition to providing fertile soil, rivers enabled transportation, trade and provided food. Farmers could travel further distance on the water to travel and explore and fishermen could catch a diversity of fish. However, beyond the rivers were deserts and mountains, which isolated the Mesopotamians from others and prevented the flow of ingenious ideas. For example, the creation of dikes and canals helped control the flow of the Tigris and Euphrates, which could sometimes have devastating results. Too little flooding would result in the destruction of crops and the death of people and livestock. On the other hand, excessive flooding would destroy homes, crops and cause deaths. However, both rivers played a very important role in the development of civilization. The flooding of the Tigris and Euphrates proved vital to the survival of Mesopotamia. When rivers overflowed, they took mineral-enriched land with them. This natural fertilizer would cover the middle of the surrounding paper. It is a way of letting people around the world know about other major events and is used to keep records. Additionally, the creation of a religion has a great influence as most of modern society follows a certain religion. Mesopotamia was a civilization with humble beginnings, but which rose to a culture of great stature. The geographical location of Mesopotamia played an important role in its development. From its beginnings as an agricultural village to its peak as a thriving society, Mesopotamia provided a springboard for cultures to follow. Thanks to the exhausting work of citizens, civilization learned to cultivate. From there, it grew at a high rate and reached its peak periods, where motivation created new inventions and ideas. Today, these inventions and ideas still play a role in society. Without Mesopotamia, world society would not be the illustrious civilization it is today.