section_path: History by region/West Asia
section_name: West Asia
paragraph_text: West Asia
  
  The ancient Near East is considered the cradle of civilization. It was the first to practice intensive year-round agriculture; created one of the first coherent writing systems, invented the potter's wheel and then the vehicular wheel, created the first centralized governments, law codes and empires, as well as displaying social stratification, slavery, and organized warfare. It began the study of the stars and the sciences of astronomy and mathematics.