Was Mesopotamia the Cradle of Civilization?

In this episode of Stuff You Should Know, Josh and Chuck explore whether Mesopotamia truly deserves its title as "the cradle of civilization." They dive into what makes a civilization, examining how 11,000 years ago humans made the monumental shift from hunter-gatherer societies to agricultural settlements. The hosts discuss the key elements that emerged in ancient Mesopotamia - from the world's first written records and literature (like Gilgamesh) to organized religion, social hierarchies, and even the invention of time itself, while also exploring a fascinating theory that humanity's love of alcohol might have been the real driving force behind the agricultural revolution.