At the same time that Egyptian civilization flourished along the Nile River valley, civilization thrived in Mesopotamia between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, in what is now Iraq. Mesopotamian culture endured through several changes in ruling ethnic groups. The earliest people to govern Mesopotamia, from about 3500 to 2500 BC, were Sumerians. Babylonian rule began in about 2000 BC, followed by Assyrian domination starting in about 1000 BC. In 539 BC the Persians conquered Mesopotamia, led by Cyrus the Great.
Whereas the Egyptians generally wore lightweight linen clothes, the Sumerians and their successors favored heavier woolen garments. Wool was produced in Mesopotamia for export as well as for domestic use. The traditional Mesopotamian garment was a woolen skirt; over time, a T-shaped tunic (loose-fitting garment extending to the knees) replaced it. Shawls were draped around the upper torso. Embroidery and fringe generally ornamented Mesopotamian tunics and shawls, and dyes gave clothing a variety of colors. Priests determined which colors were suitable for particular occasions. Men wore beards, and some Mesopotamian sculptures show the men in turbanlike hats.
Veils were worn in Mesopotamia, and they still constitute an important component of dress for women in many areas of the Middle East. Assyrian legal codes specified that only free, married women could wear veils; these codes specifically prohibited slaves and prostitutes from wearing them. The association of veiling and status persisted in Middle Eastern cultures; in early-20th-century Egypt and Arabia, veils were a sign of high social status and feminine modesty. However, the significance of veiling varied according to time and place. For example, in mid-20th century Iran, members of the urban elite class began to adopt Western-style clothing and to associate veiling with the less-educated classes.