The Role of Religion in Early Urban Civilizations
Productive and functional cities are developed and cultivated by people with a common purpose and goal. Religion not only provides individuals a reason to live but brings people and communities together. This reason, varying form religion to religion, is a major force behind the development of urban human civilization. The impact of religion is prominent in two of the great first urban civilizations of Mesopotamian and Egyptian.
In the Mesopotamian civilization was a common reason and idea of life that drove, molded and formed their society. Their purpose for life was found in their religion and in it they believed they lived to serve the gods who in return would protect them. With this mindset, …show more content…
In the middle of each city was at least one temple or a ziggurat, the house of the god of the city and the place in which the people would worship their god. The architecture of these temples shows the dedication and importance it held to the people of its time. Their temples were renovated to be more detailed and higher in altitude as seen in Eridu, a great city of Mesopotamian civilization. There one of their temples is estimated to be excavated over twenty times (Tignor 52). Outside the temples or ziggurats were the houses of the priests who interceded for the people. Behind were the people who lived in the city and lastly the farmers and shepherds were located outside the city. The order and place in which structures were created and where people lived demonstrates the power of religion over the cities of Mesopotamian civilization. (Tignor 52)
The economy was influenced and driven by their dedication to their gods. In order to attain certain materials for the temple, business was needed it was by the means of trade amongst the citizens of a city and cites of other cities which caused the economy to bloom. Materials such as copper, shells, pottery and shells were traded for gold sliver and textiles. It is clear religion was a great power in economics and motivation for trade (Tignor …show more content…
The religion of the Mesopotamian civilizations gave them a drive to not only live but do something valuable with their lives, and in return, know they are being protected and If the people are living for the gods who are supposed to look after them, they have a drive to give the gods the best they have to offer, such as a great temple, their life work, and if necessary their life. This dedication to religion and deities, and its impact on civilization was also seen in a group of neighboring people in Egypt.
Egyptian civilization’s development would have not been as successful and great as we know it today if it was not for their united, orderly way of life. Their common goal was “to preserve cosmic order fundamental to creation and prosperity” (Tignor 67) which was found through life service to the gods. The importance of religion in Egypt was what motivated and helped develop a strong government, incomparable physical structures, and
Productive and functional cities are developed and cultivated by people with a common purpose and goal. Religion not only provides individuals a reason to live but brings people and communities together. This reason, varying form religion to religion, is a major force behind the development of urban human civilization. The impact of religion is prominent in two of the great first urban civilizations of Mesopotamian and Egyptian.
In the Mesopotamian civilization was a common reason and idea of life that drove, molded and formed their society. Their purpose for life was found in their religion and in it they believed they lived to serve the gods who in return would protect them. With this mindset, …show more content…
In the middle of each city was at least one temple or a ziggurat, the house of the god of the city and the place in which the people would worship their god. The architecture of these temples shows the dedication and importance it held to the people of its time. Their temples were renovated to be more detailed and higher in altitude as seen in Eridu, a great city of Mesopotamian civilization. There one of their temples is estimated to be excavated over twenty times (Tignor 52). Outside the temples or ziggurats were the houses of the priests who interceded for the people. Behind were the people who lived in the city and lastly the farmers and shepherds were located outside the city. The order and place in which structures were created and where people lived demonstrates the power of religion over the cities of Mesopotamian civilization. (Tignor 52)
The economy was influenced and driven by their dedication to their gods. In order to attain certain materials for the temple, business was needed it was by the means of trade amongst the citizens of a city and cites of other cities which caused the economy to bloom. Materials such as copper, shells, pottery and shells were traded for gold sliver and textiles. It is clear religion was a great power in economics and motivation for trade (Tignor …show more content…
The religion of the Mesopotamian civilizations gave them a drive to not only live but do something valuable with their lives, and in return, know they are being protected and If the people are living for the gods who are supposed to look after them, they have a drive to give the gods the best they have to offer, such as a great temple, their life work, and if necessary their life. This dedication to religion and deities, and its impact on civilization was also seen in a group of neighboring people in Egypt.
Egyptian civilization’s development would have not been as successful and great as we know it today if it was not for their united, orderly way of life. Their common goal was “to preserve cosmic order fundamental to creation and prosperity” (Tignor 67) which was found through life service to the gods. The importance of religion in Egypt was what motivated and helped develop a strong government, incomparable physical structures, and