Iraq is one of the oldest countries on Earth.
When people say "old", they mean one of the first civilisations appeared there over 5,000 years ago.
First writing
The first writing, called cuneiform, appeared there before anywhere else on the planet in an area once known as Mesopotamia.
Mesopotamia was home to the famous Hanging Gardens of Babylon. Fifth century BC historian, Herodotus, believed the Garden of Eden was there as well.
Other firsts
The Sumerians, who came from Sumeria next door to Mesopotamia, invented the first wheel and used them on chariots.
By 3,500 BC, the Sumerians had developed ways to control the Tigris and the Euphrates rivers which flowed through the area, building canals to water their crops.
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