The Mesopotamian civilization took place around 4000 BC. C. and corresponds to the first populations with permanent settlements. It was established in a very fertile territory, between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, the current region of Iraq. Hence the origin of the name Mesopotamia, which means “land between rivers.”
The civilizations of Egypt and Greece developed in parallel, with less power and in a more isolated way. Mesopotamia stood out for hosting multiple empires and cultures that evolved together, which is why it is considered the cradle of civilization.
Among the main populations stood out the Sumerian , Assyrian, Akkadian and Babylonian , who developed sophisticated agricultural techniques taking advantage of the rising rivers, which allowed them to establish cities with a high population density.
See also: Cretan Civilization
Origin of the Mesopotamian civilization
Mesopotamian civilization inhabited the region between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers.
The origin of the Mesopotamian civilization dates back to prehistory , especially at the end of the Neolithic period , it was in which humans lived nomadically in small groups and engaged in hunting or gathering.
In a region that did not present the best conditions, they knew how to take advantage of the channels of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers to irrigate the crops and developed agriculture and animal husbandry , being able to supply food to a large population.
This civilization began to build the first stable towns . The beginning of human settlements was a transformation that marked a before and after in history , which continued to unfold throughout the world until today.
Characteristics of the Mesopotamian civilization
Mesopotamian civilization was characterized by:
- Agriculture and animal husbandry, leaving hunting and gathering in the background.
- The new social structure with a large population organized by families and by the division of labor.
- The multiple cultures of their own that, in addition, crossed with the neighboring civilizations of Egypt and the Indus Valley.
- The diversity of peoples that inhabited it, such as the Sumerians, the Akkadians, the Assyrians and the Babylonians.
- The development of important knowledge about mathematics , astronomy and architecture . In addition, they created the first cuneiform writing system .
- The creation of the oldest legal document made up of laws written on stone and clay tablets, during the time of the Babylonians.
- The polytheistic religion in which they worshiped various gods that had different ranks of importance. Each god had a specific temple and ritual.
Mesopotamian cultures
There were multiple cultures that made up the great Mesopotamian civilization.
The Mesopotamian cultures were various and they were differentiated by their origin and their lifestyle, both nomadic and sedentary. Among the main cultures are:
- Umm, Hassuna, Tell Halaf and Samarra. They were the first tribes to settle in the region.
- Sumerian. It was the first great civilization to develop a major city. The Sumerians, who are believed to have come from central Asia , settled in southern Mesopotamia and reached a high level of development, forming the first great civilization. They created canals that made it possible to take advantage of river water and develop larger-scale agriculture. Its social organization was made up of several independent walled cities.
- Akkadian, Assyrian, and Babylonian. They were great empires of Mesopotamia that fought for power through bloody confrontations. The Akkadians lived in the Mesopotamian north and settled almost in parallel with the development of the Sumerians. King Sargon tried to build a unified kingdom with the Sumerians and in 2350 BC. Formed a new great empire that lasted until his death. The Assyrians were the most indomitable people and the people who unleashed the most violent confrontations. They attacked the Babylonian Empire located in the center of Mesopotamia. The Babylonians allied with several neighboring populations and succeeded in ending Assyrian power, dominating the Mesopotamian south through a stable reign.
- Hittite and Persian. They were Indo-European populations, that is, from Asia, who invaded the region. Around 550 a. C. a town of the Mesopotamian north called the Persians led by the emperor Ciro II rebelled against the power of the Babylonian rulers. The Persians formed a new empire that lasted about 300 years. The kings who succeeded Cyrus led a life of limitless opulence that unleashed a decline for civilization, making it vulnerable to further attacks and invasions by peoples such as the Parthians, the Romans, and the Arabs.
Contributions of the Mesopotamian civilization
The Mesopotamians of the Babylonian Empire created the first code of laws.
Among the main contributions of the Mesopotamian civilization are:
- The writing system. It consisted of the first vestige of writing, even before the Egyptian system of hieroglyphics. It was called cuneiform writing because of the wedge shape of the symbols.
- The code of laws. It consisted of a set of laws written in the Semitic language, on stone or clay tablets. It was called the code of Hammurabi. It presented different punishments for the same crime, depending on social class .
- The Mesopotamian calendar. It represented two seasons: summer and winter, the beginning of the year corresponded with the spring equinox, during the first quarter of the lunar crescent.
- Knowledge of astronomy. The evidence reflects that they believed in a planetary system and that the Earth revolved around a luminous star.
