Mesopotamia: the land between two rivers

Old Babylonian and Assyrian sculpture from Mesopotamia. (Image: Andrea Izzotti/Shutterstock) Mesopotamia refers to a vast region that can include parts of Iraq, eastern Syria, southeastern Turkey, western Iran, and Kuwait. The word "Mesopotamia" is an ancient Greek name sometimes translated as "the land between two rivers" - the two rivers are the Euphrates and the Tigris, both originating in eastern Turkey and heading south into the Persian Gulf.

Some of the world's earliest cities were built within the wider region of Mesopotamia, as well as the world's oldest writing system. Residents of this region contributed to many important discoveries and developments in astronomy, mathematics, and architecture. Over the millennia, many cultures and empires flourished in Mesopotamia, including the Sumerians, Assyrians, and Babylonians. Warfare occurred frequently in the area; evidence of early urban warfare has been found at the site of Hamoukar.

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Archaeological work shows that Uruk, Eridu, and Hamukal, among many other early Cities flourished in Mesopotamia. Zainab Bahrani, professor of ancient Near Eastern art and archeology at Columbia University, writes in her book Mesopotamia: Ancient Art and Architecture (Thames and Hudson) that an ancient Babylonian Mythology claims that Eridu, a site in southern Iraq, is the world’s oldest city and was created by gods, 2017).

"Not a city was built, not a creature was settled. "All the land was the sea... Then Eridu was made," part of the myth says in a translation,

While the ancient Babylonians considered Eridu to be the first city on Earth, modern archaeologists are not so sure, Bahrani noted, and the area was excavated in the mid-20th century. Archaeologists have found the earliest artifacts and structures dating back to about 7,300 years ago. Other ancient cities in Mesopotamia, such as Uruk, also date back to that time. In other places, such as Catalonia (in Turkey) and Jericho (in the West Bank), cuneiform originated as a writing system that dates back to about 9,500 years ago. Many scholars believe it to be the oldest in the world, dating back 5,200 years. This writing system is often referred to as "cuneiform" by modern scholars. The graffiti on these tablets often appear to be wedge-shaped, and Encoded many different languages ??that changed over time, such as Sumerian, Assyrian, and Babylonian

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The Mesopotamians wrote on many subjects, including literary works such as The Epic of Gilgamesh, as well as texts discussing religion, trade, science, law, and even some recording ancient riddles. of text.

Cuneiform writing may have evolved from markings with symbols on them, sometimes enclosed in clay balls with images on them. Deciphering what the markings inside the clay balls meant is an ongoing process. Research Topic. Ancient Sumerian Cuneiform Inscriptions on Stone (Shutterstock) Science and Mathematics in Mesopotamia

There were many scientific and mathematical discoveries in Mesopotamia, for example. Trigonometry evidence comes from a 3,700-year-old Babylonian tablet. Recent research has also found that the ancient Babylonians discovered a basic form of calculus and used it to track the motion of Jupiter.

Mesopotamia. The Damians' mathematical and astronomical discoveries allowed the development of calendar and timekeeping systems that are still used today. Mesopotamian Architecture

The Mesopotamians were also skilled in architecture, engineering, and construction. They established a complex and varied system of canals and dikes to irrigate crops, allowing food to be grown in areas lacking rainfall. These irrigation systems were particularly important in southern Mesopotamia, where there was often not enough rainfall to support agriculture.

Another impressive architectural achievement of Mesopotamia was the construction of "ziggurats", elaborate pyramid-like towers that dominated the skylines of many cities in the region. Played a role in religious rituals. "From an architectural perspective, the experience of climbing Zigong is a pious experience of climbing upwards in a ritualistic way, an experience of stopping and turning in certain places, a religious experience. The process required," writes Barani, was a self-dedicated tribute to the god Marduk, built 2,500 years ago by the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar II, who may have inspired The story about the Tower of Babel in the Bible: The royal family boasted that he had all the countries in the world build the Tower of Babel together.

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“I mobilized [all] nations everywhere, everyone loved by Marduk Rulers have become prominent in the hearts of people all over the world... "The name of Nebuchadnezzar II has this inscription:

It is the Ishtar Gate, which enters the center of Babylon. One of the eight gates, it is also considered an architectural masterpiece by modern scholars. Also built by Nebuchadnezzar II, it is constructed of blue glazed bricks depicting alternating rows of oxen and dragons.

Another impressive architectural achievement is the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, hailed as a "wonder of the world" by some ancient writers. The Greek philosopher Strabo (who lived from 63 BC to AD 24) wrote that trees and plants in gardens grew between arches and staircases. Strabo writes that a pump system allows water to rise into the garden. However, archaeologists have yet to discover the remains of the garden, and there is debate over whether it actually existed. There is a theory that they existed, but were actually located in the city of Nineveh. "KDSPE" "KDSPs" "KDSPE" This photo shows a restored ZiggurAT in the ancient Iraqi city of Ur. (Image Credit: SuttSt Anvil) The most influential culture in history, "KDSPS", many different peoples, cultures, civilizations and empires flourished throughout Mesopotamia. Famous examples include the Sumerians, a society that spoke a similar language and similar artifacts and may have been the first to use cuneiform. They flourished throughout Mesopotamia in the fourth and third millennium BC, although they were rarely politically united.

Another famous Mesopotamian people were the Assyrians. In ancient times, they built an empire that spanned much of the Middle East. This group built several famous cities, including Ashur, Nineveh, and Nimrud. Today, modern Assyrians still live in Iraq and Syria, although recent wars have resulted in many Assyrians being killed or forced to flee their homes. The terrorist group ISIL (also known as Daesh) has looted or destroyed many Assyrian historical sites.

The Babylonians were another famous people that flourished in Mesopotamia. At their peak, some 2,500 years ago, they controlled an empire that stretched from the Persian Gulf to the borders of Egypt. Their scientists made important discoveries in mathematics and astronomy.

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