Although the people who settled in Mesopotamia are often credited as the first civilization, new research shows that Aboriginal Australians are the oldest known civilization on Earth. The Aborigines can trace their ancestries back to about 75,000 years ago, but became a distinct genetic group around 50,000 years ago.

Generally accepted as being the oldest civilization ever to have existed, Sumeria is thought to have its origins around 6000 years ago, or 4000BC. In ancient Sumer, the first signs of modern human life emerge. Many of which are still cornerstones of modern-day life.