Much of what we take for granted in the West—writing, law, timekeeping—was first developed in ancient Mesopotamia. It’s a part of the world that has long been a centre of creativity and statecraft and that our civilisation was built on ideas from the banks of the Tigris–Euphrates as well as from the centres of Athens and Rome.

1. Writing (cuneiform): Early Mesopotamians created cuneiform, one of the first writing systems for recording laws, trade, and stories.
2. The wheel:  They developed the wheel, first for pottery, then for carts and chariots, transforming transport and craft.
3. Base‑60 time system:Sexagesimal system gave us 60 seconds, 60 minutes and 360 degrees.