When and where did civilization in the eastern Mediterranean sea begin?

Civilization in the eastern Mediterranean began around 3000 BCE, primarily in regions such as Mesopotamia and the Nile Valley. The emergence of complex societies can be traced to the development of agriculture in the Fertile Crescent, which encompasses parts of modern-day Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Israel, and Egypt. Notable early civilizations included the Sumerians in Mesopotamia and the ancient Egyptians along the Nile River. These cultures laid the foundations for trade, writing, and governance that would influence later civilizations in the region.