1.2 PRES Early Cities and Mesopotamia COMPRESSED

Early Cities and Mesopotamia

Overview

  • Focus on first urban settlements in Mesopotamia, particularly the Fertile Crescent.

  • Various cities experienced growth due to trade and agricultural surplus.

Key Concepts

  • Impact of trade on city development and structure.

  • Importance of irrigation for sustaining cities and agriculture.

Historical Context

Neolithic Era

  • Transition from nomadic lifestyles to settled agricultural communities around 6000 BCE.

Innovations

  • Development of tools and techniques improved hunting and farming.

  • Emergence of comparative advantage in cities for trading goods, adapting to societal needs over time.

City Formation and Infrastructure

Trade Centers

  • Surplus goods led to trade centers, which anchored city growth around 3500 BCE.

  • Both local and regional trade networks formed, driving economic stability and cultural exchanges.

Governance

  • Necessity for governance arose from growing trade complexities and societal needs.

  • Code of Hammurabi established to maintain order and regulate commerce.

Urban Design

City Walls and Gates

  • Walled cities for defense, controlling trade, and protecting from flooding.

  • Gates functioned as checkpoints to monitor goods and people entering or leaving.

Street Planning

  • Use of a grid pattern for city design, influencing urban planning throughout history.

  • Diverse road systems facilitated trade and transport.

Water Management

Irrigation Systems

  • Advances in irrigation techniques allowed expansion away from riverbanks.

  • Community responsibility for maintaining irrigation systems.

Water Supply

  • Essential for survival; reliance on clean, fresh water through wells and canals.

Social Structure

Residential Areas

  • Houses built from mud brick, varying in size and luxury depending on wealth.

  • Districts categorized based on function: residential, commercial, civic.

Temples and Governance

  • Temples served both as religious and administrative centers.

  • Leaders held authority derived from being seen as chosen by the gods.

Cultural Development

Ziggurats

  • Stepped temples signifying religious and cultural importance, serving as the highest point in cities.

  • Reflects the amalgamation of religious and architectural advancements.

Conclusion

  • Urbanization in Mesopotamia characterized by innovation, trade, and governance.

  • Continued evolution through socio-economic necessities and cultural exchanges.