If we look back on history, when talking about the most structural and diverse cities ever formed, we refer to the city of Uruk. Uruk is arguably one of the most important cities in ancient Mesopotamia. According to the Sumerian King List, King Enmerkar founded it at around 4500 B.C. It is located in the southern region of Sumer, a very dry yet surprisingly rich and bountiful location. The city is most famous for its powerful and memorable king Gilgamesh and his dream of becoming immortal but also to develop a number of new innovations for his civilization.
The rise of the Uruk state came about through two different factors. First, materialism is one of the key factors of this drastic emergence. The Uruk citizens and rulers were able to utilize …show more content…
It is considered the first true city in the world. A few examples of the Uruk architectural work, made out of stone and also the building of these massive stone structures. The first form of architectural work in stone was the ziggurat, a cylinder seal that the ancient Mesopotamia used to designate personal property or as a signature on documents. (Joyce, Lecture 12) Located in between the Tigris and the Euphrates an area called Sumer held the first cities of Mesopotamia. The people thrived off the location utilizing the rivers for trade and resources. Uruk could also take credit for recognizing the importance of the individual in the community as a whole. The people were known to have kept documents of leaderships and their accomplishments within scripts, one in specific called The Sumerian King List. The development of many new features of production is what led Uruk becoming such a well know …show more content…
(Joyce, Lecture 12) The period is divided into eight different phases, from the oldest, through its popularity/importance, and into its decline based upon the levels of the ruins excavated and the history which the artifacts. The city of Uruk, being extremely influential, became the largest urban center and the hub of trade and administration. Uruk ruled their surrounding region. All trade went through their city. Surrounding cities, specifically Ur had a greater advantage for trade, being closer to the Persian Gulf, although this is not the case. In almost every excavated city around Mesopotamia, we see Uruk artifacts being found. With the excess amount of agriculture, this sparked the beginning of class inequality and social stratification. Often this resulted in dispute and war over land and
The rise of the Uruk state came about through two different factors. First, materialism is one of the key factors of this drastic emergence. The Uruk citizens and rulers were able to utilize …show more content…
It is considered the first true city in the world. A few examples of the Uruk architectural work, made out of stone and also the building of these massive stone structures. The first form of architectural work in stone was the ziggurat, a cylinder seal that the ancient Mesopotamia used to designate personal property or as a signature on documents. (Joyce, Lecture 12) Located in between the Tigris and the Euphrates an area called Sumer held the first cities of Mesopotamia. The people thrived off the location utilizing the rivers for trade and resources. Uruk could also take credit for recognizing the importance of the individual in the community as a whole. The people were known to have kept documents of leaderships and their accomplishments within scripts, one in specific called The Sumerian King List. The development of many new features of production is what led Uruk becoming such a well know …show more content…
(Joyce, Lecture 12) The period is divided into eight different phases, from the oldest, through its popularity/importance, and into its decline based upon the levels of the ruins excavated and the history which the artifacts. The city of Uruk, being extremely influential, became the largest urban center and the hub of trade and administration. Uruk ruled their surrounding region. All trade went through their city. Surrounding cities, specifically Ur had a greater advantage for trade, being closer to the Persian Gulf, although this is not the case. In almost every excavated city around Mesopotamia, we see Uruk artifacts being found. With the excess amount of agriculture, this sparked the beginning of class inequality and social stratification. Often this resulted in dispute and war over land and