The region is often called the cradle of civilization because it saw the development of many of the earliest human civilizations. It is a half moon shaped area that comprises the Tigris, Euphrates, Jordan and Nile rivers.

Jewish history is the history of the Jews, and their nation, religion, and culture, as it developed and interacted with other peoples, religions, and cultures. Jews originated from the Israelites and Hebrews of historical Israel and Judah, two related kingdoms that emerged in the Levant during the Iron Age.