What is the cradle of civilization?

Scholars traditionally regard Mesopotamia, an ancient area surrounding the Tigris and Euphrates rivers that is now parts of modern day Iraq, Syria, Turkey and Kuwait, as the cradle of civilization. The area is also know as the Fertile Crescent.

A cradle of civilization is the geographic location where people first began to live and work together in communities that led to the establishment of modern civilization. Although Mesopotamia is typically taught as "the" cradle of civilization, several geographic locations exist that scholars have claimed to be cradles of civilization. China as well as various locations throughout the continent of Africa are examples of such.