Mesopotamia is the place where the world’s first cities emerged.
Mesopotamia spanned the area now occupied by Iraq, eastern Syria, western Iran and Kuwait and is considered by historians to be the place where the world’s first cities were built. The word ‘Mesopotamia’ is derived from ancient Greek and means ‘the land between two rivers’, referring to the Tigris and Euphrates rivers that demarcate this geographical area. It was here that the world’s first cultures and empires emerged: the Sumerians, Assyrians and Babylonians. Live Science journalists have put together a list of 5 important facts about Mesopotamia.
1. Cities of Mesopotamia
Historical sources and archaeological excavations have uncovered many ancient cities: Uruk, Eridu and Hamoukar. Babylonian myths claim that Eridu, located in southern Iraq, was the world’s first city, created by the gods, as Dr Zainab Bahrani, professor at Columbia University and author of Mesopotamia: Ancient Art and Architecture, explains.
Excavations that led to the discovery of Eridu began in the mid-20th century. Archaeologists are unsure whether the city is the oldest in the world, with artefacts and structures found there dating back 7,300 years. It is also important to note that archaeologists have found evidence of human presence dating back over 9,500 years in cities such as Catalhoyuk and Jericho.
2. Cuneiform writing
Cuneiform, the world’s first writing system, is over 5,200 years old; its inventors and users used clay tablets which they then burned in a fire to harden them. This system of signs was used to write in many languages, including Sumerian, Babylonian and Assyrian.
Although writing was initially practical, used to monitor quantities of produce and calculate taxes, over time the ancient inhabitants of Mesopotamia began to record their laws, thoughts, religious texts and myths, the Epic of Gilgamesh being the world’s oldest literary creation.
3. Science of Mesopotamia
The first foundations of science and mathematics were laid by Mesopotamian scholars. The earliest evidence of the use of trigonometry dates back over 3,700 years. As for astronomy, clay tablets show the first rudimentary records of Jupiter’s movement across the night sky.
By combining astronomical observations and mathematical analysis, the Mesopotamians were able to create the foundations of the calendar and time-keeping system we use today. For example, the 60-based sexasystem we use today to divide time has Sumerian origins.
4. Construction and engineering of Mesopotamia
The ruins of Mesopotamian cities have shown that the people who built them had a wealth of knowledge and skills. One of the most impressive technical achievements to originate in Mesopotamia is the irrigation canals, which made it possible to practice agriculture in areas such as the south of the region, where low rainfall was a major problem.
Another element that highlights the impressive technical and architectural capabilities of the ancient inhabitants of Mesopotamia is the ziggurat. These tall towers, which dominated the landscapes of ancient cities, most likely had religious functions.
The story of such a ziggurat even found its way into biblical myths, specifically the story of the Tower of Babel. From deciphering clay tablets and other inscriptions, historians have concluded that King Nebuchadnezzar II built a very large ziggurat 2,500 years ago, in whose construction all the kingdoms of the world would have worked. “We mobilized [all] the countries everywhere, [and every] ruler [who] had risen to prominence over all the people of the world loved by Marduk,” says an inscription attributed to this king.
5. Culture of Mesopotamia
Mesopotamia has been home to many cultures and empires throughout the ages. These include Sumer, the first to use cuneiform writing, which was divided into several cities over time.
Mesopotamia was also the birthplace of the Assyrians, who built an empire that spanned most of the Middle East. It was this historical group that built cities such as Ashur, Nineveh and Nimrud.
