In what way did mesopotamia's geography and location it to thrive?

Early civilizations lacked the expertise needed to construct the elaborate works necessary to modify the land for their own use, such as massive irrigation systems or graded tunnels and roads to pass through natural barriers. The earliest cities were established in geographically beneficial areas, providing their citizens with ready access to the natural resources they needed. Egypt, for instance, enjoyed a massive agricultural benefit from the regular flooding of the Nile River, as well as protection from other civilizations created by the deserts and harsh terrain that surrounded the kingdom. Rivers and sea currents provided established trade routes between these civilizations and encouraged trade, while mountains acted as cultural barriers and allowed the people on either side autonomy from one another. Later civilizations learned to take advantage of geography to suit their needs, allowing for colonization of areas previously unsuitable for human habitation.