Ancient Mesopotamia

Summary

In this discussion, Jason Ur explores the differences and similarities between ancient and modern cities, focusing on Mesopotamian urban life. Ancient cities like those in Mesopotamia were densely populated but primarily agricultural, with farmers traveling outside the city to work the land. Ur also compares early cities like Çatalhöyük and Uruk, highlighting their unique characteristics. While some cities, like Uruk, thrived due to irrigation, others like Tell Brak, despite lacking irrigation, grew large through ideological and religious significance. The conversation delves into how cities were not just economic hubs but also places of cultural and spiritual meaning.

Takeaways

• 😀 Ancient cities were physically similar to modern cities, with dense populations and narrow streets.
• 😀 Mesopotamian cities around 3000 BC were inhabited by farmers, not just consumers, unlike today's cities.
• 😀 In ancient Mesopotamian cities, farmers would leave the city to work in nearby fields and return later.
• 😀 The practice of living in the city, despite farming being outside, could have been motivated by security and safety.
• 😀 People in ancient cities may have been drawn to urban living as a cultural identity, similar to modern urbanites.
• 😀 Early Mesopotamian cities, like Uruk, were secured by thick walls to protect inhabitants and livestock.
• 😀 Çatalhöyük, a settlement from around 6-7,000 BC, lacked distinct wealth inequality, making it not a typical city by modern standards.
• 😀 The lack of streets and the closely packed houses in Çatalhöyük suggests a different social structure compared to typical cities.
• 😀 Southern Mesopotamian cities like Uruk were closely linked to the development of irrigation technology for food production.
• 😀 The city of Tell Brak in Northern Mesopotamia grew large (around 15,000 people) without the need for irrigation, suggesting ideological or religious factors may have played a role in its growth.

Q & A

How were ancient cities similar to modern cities?

Ancient cities, particularly those in Mesopotamia, were physically dense, with narrow streets and a high concentration of people living close to each other, similar to modern cities.

What major difference did Jason Ur point out between ancient Mesopotamian cities and modern cities?

Ancient Mesopotamian cities were inhabited largely by farmers who would travel to the fields daily, whereas modern cities are typically places for consumers, with rural areas being where agriculture happens.

Why did people in ancient Mesopotamian cities live within the city walls rather than closer to their fields?

Living inside the city walls likely offered safety and security. The presence of thick city walls suggests that people may have clustered together for protection from threats.

What role did animals play in early Mesopotamian homes?

In some homes, there were open spaces where household animals were kept. These animals were likely brought back into the city at the end of each day, reflecting the security concerns of living in ancient cities.

Why is Çatalhöyük not considered a 'real city'?

Çatalhöyük, while dense and urban in form, lacked significant social inequality. The material culture found in the houses suggested no significant wealth disparity, a key characteristic of true cities in later periods.

What was unique about how people lived in Çatalhöyük?

People in Çatalhöyük entered their homes through roof openings, and the houses were tightly connected without streets, creating a very dense, interconnected living environment.

What was the significance of Uruk in ancient Mesopotamia?

Uruk was one of the most famous cities in ancient Mesopotamia, known for its association with the Epic of Gilgamesh. It is also notable for being one of the first places to implement irrigation technology to sustain its large population.

How did the irrigation technology in Southern Mesopotamia affect city development?

Irrigation allowed for reliable crop production, which in turn supported the growth of large, nucleated urban centers like Uruk. It was a key factor in enabling the rise of early cities in Southern Mesopotamia.

What was surprising about the city of Tell Brak in Northern Mesopotamia?

Tell Brak grew to be a large city without the use of irrigation. It relied on rain-fed agriculture, which contradicted the previously held belief that irrigation was necessary for the development of cities.

What role did religion play in the sustainability of Tell Brak?

Religion likely played an important role in the longevity of Tell Brak. The discovery of a temple and religious idols suggests that the city had a spiritual significance that drew people to it, even if the area wasn't ideal for living or farming.