Around 4000 B.C., the earliest phase of the Sumerian culture arose as the oldest civilization in the Mesopotamia region, in what is now mostly Iraq. The Sumerians are named after the ancient city of Sumer, which was a few miles south of the modern city of Kut, in eastern Iraq.

The oldest recorded civilization in the world is the Mesopotamia civilization. Overall, the 4 oldest civilizations of the world are Mesopotamia Civilization, Egyptian Civilization, Indus Valley Civilization, and Chinese Civilization.

In the region of the world that has now become modern-day Iraq, we see the first signs of civilization on the planet. Generally accepted as being the oldest civilization ever to have existed, Sumeria is thought to have its origins around 6000 years ago, or 4000BC.

Here are the 15 oldest ancient civilizations that have ever existed on Earth. 1. Mesopotamian Civilization- Iraq Period: Around 3500 B.C. – 500 B.C. Original Location: Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq) Current Location: Iraq, parts of Iran, Syria, and Turkey