Mesopotamia, meaning "between two rivers" in Greek, was located between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers in modern-day Iraq. Around 12,000 years ago, hunter-gatherers began settling in the region and eventually established farming communities due to the rich, fertile soil created by annual flooding. They developed irrigation techniques like canals to control floods and droughts, allowing for reliable agriculture and food surpluses. This led to larger, more complex settlements and the rise of the first cities between 4000-3000 BC, though agriculture remained the primary economic activity.