c. 5400–4000 BCEReputable sourceWell documented
Eridu and the First Cities
On the timeline · around c. 5400–4000 BCE ·
What happened
On the marshy plain of southern Mesopotamia, the earliest settlements grew during the Ubaid period. Eridu — regarded by the Sumerians as the first city, home of the god Enki — took shape around 5400 BCE, with a temple rebuilt on the same spot for thousands of years.
Why it matters
This was the beginning of settled urban life. Mesopotamia — Greek for 'the land between the rivers' (the Tigris and Euphrates) — would become the cradle of civilization.
Sources
- World History Encyclopedia. Eridu · Reputable source