Changes

They built cities known as Eridu, Lagash, Ur, Uruk, Isin, Kish, just to name a few.  They were smart, and developed Akkadian as their language.  One interesting aspect of Akkadian is that it lacks any tense forms such as past or future tense.  The verbs expressed the manner of an action rather than its time.

They built cities known as Eridu, Lagash, Ur, Uruk, Isin, Kish, just to name a few.  They were smart, and developed Akkadian as their language.  One interesting aspect of Akkadian is that it lacks any tense forms such as past or future tense.  The verbs expressed the manner of an action rather than its time.

By 3000 B.C. the people had built major canals to channel water, and roads on which to travel.  Shepherds had dogs to help them tend the sheep, just as we use today to help herd sheep together.  Each city was surrounded by a moat and a wall of brick, with as many as 900 towers inside the city.  Soldiers watched entry back and forth, and chariots and wagons carried people and goods within the city.  By 3000 B.C. mankind had already built a mini-version of Manhattan, without the automobile and steel skyscrapers.  But Mesopotamia (unlike Egypt and China) was not protected by geography, and would constantly face invasion by foreigners.

By 3000 B.C. the people had built major canals to channel water, and roads on which to travel.  Shepherds had dogs to help them tend the sheep, just as we use today to help herd sheep together.  Each city was surrounded by a moat and a wall of brick, with as many as 900 towers inside the city.  Soldiers watched entry back and forth, and wagons carried people and goods within the city.  By 3000 B.C. mankind had already built a mini-version of Manhattan, without the automobile and steel skyscrapers.  But Mesopotamia (unlike Egypt and China) was not protected by geography, and would constantly face invasion by foreigners.

Do not think there was anything primitive about these ancient cities.  They had shipping, fishing, brewers and bakers.  They spun wool and traded fine jewelry.  They discovered the Pythagorean Theorem, though it was later named after a Greek.  In 2500 B.C., the queen of Ur, which was a prominent city, lived in a palace that featured harps and many servants.  Slavery existed, but it was typically confined to domestic work in the cities rather than hard labor on the farm.  Slaves were given a minimum standard of living and often had the opportunity to rise to freedom through diligent work.

Do not think there was anything primitive about these ancient cities.  They had shipping, fishing, brewers and bakers.  They spun wool and traded fine jewelry.  They discovered the Pythagorean Theorem, though it was later named after a Greek.  In 2500 B.C., the queen of Ur, which was a prominent city, lived in a palace that featured harps and many servants.  Slavery existed, but it was typically confined to domestic work in the cities rather than hard labor on the farm.  Slaves were given a minimum standard of living and often had the opportunity to rise to freedom through diligent work.