Perhaps this is ASB, but ok.
We all know the importance of geography on the history and progress of a nation, If you could choose a place (regardless of size, as long as it makes sense) to permanently settle a civilization, where would it be? You might simply think of one of the Cradles of Civilization, but I don't think places like Mesopotamia are particularly safe from invaders and Egypt might not be so great on the long run.
Discount the real life inhabitants of this region and even if everything of butterflied away, consider some "obvious" foreign problems that could come, like steppe nomads and etc.