Ancient Mesopotamia Essay - 1004 Words

It is undeniable that the natural environment of ancient Mesopotamia had a profound effect on the earliest civilizations known to the world. Humankind’s ability to control irrigation waters directly correlates with the rise of mass agriculture. With this mastery of their river environment, early farmers were capable of supporting large urban populations. However, in Mesopotamia the Tigris and Euphrates rivers were both a source of life as well as destruction for early societies. In many ways, the geography of ancient Mesopotamia fostered a sense of catastrophic determinism within the Sumerians, Akkadians, and Babylonians. The scarcity of resources as well as the untamable nature of their deluge environment led these early people to†¦show more content†¦The impermanence of these structures furthered their deterministic world view by instilling with this ancient society a strong sense of fatalism. Everything they built was bound to be destroyed by their geographic environment. All of their hard work could be taken away in the instance of a flash flood or doomed by harsh desert corrosion. Only a hero king who is â€Å"two-thirds god† could bring precious wood into the river valley. 2 In this light, Gilgamesh’s quest for wood offers a small window into the effects of geographic constraints within Mesopotamian society. Similar to the Epic of Gilgamesh, the Law Codes of Hammurabi unveil a society in which a harsh environment led to a set world view. In an age where it was commonly believed Mesopotamian gods had already preordained the future, Hammurabi’s code came to be viewed as the embodiment of these gods’ will. The prologue of Hammurabi’s Code proclaims that Enil (the storm god) is the â€Å"determiner of destinies of the land† and â€Å"functions over all mankind.†3 This opening verse of Hammurabi’s Code demonstrates the people of Babylon firmly believed their fate was set in sto ne by the gods. However, later and more pragmatic sections of the Law Code offer firm evidence that diluvian geography, not divine intervention, was the underlying reason for Mesopotamian determinism. In other words, it was the environment which ledShow MoreRelatedAncient Civilizations Of Mesopotamia And Mesopotamia1851 Words   |  8 Pages Sumerian (3500-2300BC)Babylonian (1792-1750 BC) both belong to civilizations of Mesopotamia, but they existed different period. The ancient civilizations of Mesopotamia are the source of the earliest surviving art; these civilizations were situated between the Tigris and the Euphrates Rivers. Dating back to 3500 B.C.E., Mesopotamian art was intended to serve as a way to glorify powerful rulers and their connection to divinity. Art was made from natural resources such as stone, shells, alabasterRead MoreThe Origin Of Ancient Mesopotamia760 Words   |  4 Pagescylinder seal of a horned man/beast found in area of ancient Mesopotamia. Goat Creatures in the Middle East In Syria, a province of Mesopotamia, the discovery of a black steatite cylinder seal occurs having solid chiseled markings of a goat, surrounded by stars, a crescent moon, and a sacred tree; appearing as a god-king, dating 1800-1600 B.C. Concurrently this endures among other numerous cylinder seals with goats or horned goatmen cut in ancient stones. In addition, reoccurring again with AssyrianRead MoreAncient Egypt, Mesopotamia, And Mesopotamia1337 Words   |  6 PagesIn ancient Egypt, Rome and Mesopotamia the connections that the people had with their rulers stemmed from their belief that their ruler had a close connection with their God’s. Because of the vast role that religion played in their lives it was important to show their admiration and appreciation for these royal beings. From a psychological standpoint, through their style, significance, and idealization, Mesopotamia, Egypt and Rome’s depictions of royalty within their artworks functioned as the bestRead MoreThe General History Of Ancient Mesopotamia1247 Words   |  5 PagesMRS 101: The general history of ancient Mesopotamia: people groups, culture, and religion Situated in the Tigris Euphrates valley was the property of Mesopotamia. It was here that the first cities in the world were founded between 4000 - 3500 BC from the Sumerian people. They developed their very own belief system, using various goddesses and gods. They developed rites and spiritual practices for worshiping these strong deities. Their daily lives were also much different than those of the last hunterRead MoreMesopotamia And Its Impact On Ancient Civilization994 Words   |  4 PagesMesopotamia, or â€Å"land between the rivers† as the name translates to in Greek, is exactly as it states; in the region of southwestern Asia, the land itself is named for it s initial position between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. However, Mesopotamia can be defined as having a reach into what is now Syria, Turkey and most of Iraq (History of Mesopotamia, 2016). This ancient civilization houses one of the earliest cities throughout human history, appearing around 3500 BC, though hu man settlementRead MoreAncient Mesopotamia And Ancient Civilizations896 Words   |  4 Pages Throughout many cultures in ancient civilizations, humans have held a belief in superior beings to which they called gods. The gods, in the eyes of many of the ancient people, were responsible for many things such as crop growth, storms, fertility, and even creation of life. The Mesopotamians, Egyptians, and the Hebrews all had gods that they interacted with. Understanding the likenesses and differences in how these people interacted with their gods might give us an insight to how similar or differentRead MoreThe Greatest Hero Figure Of Ancient Mesopotamia Essay977 Words   |  4 Pagessociety and culture. The best-known individual of Mesopotamia was Gilgamesh. He was in a cycle of stories called Epic of Gilgamesh. Gilgamesh was the greatest hero figure of ancient Mesopotamia. Though the stories focus on the adventures of both Gilgamesh and his friend Enkidu, the stories explored themes like ambition and the longing for immortality. These themes reflected the interests of the urban -based society that emerged in Mesopotamia. In Mesopotamia there was a quest for order, a formation of aRead MoreThe Destruction Of Ancient Mesopotamia1324 Words   |  6 PagesFor ancient civilizations the most important part of life was having a food source. For this reason, early human civilizations were usually established on or near a water source. In addition, they faced many problems with native animals and their natural habitats. Because of their lack of knowledge they searched for reasons to explain their hardships. Ancient civilizations physical environments were harsh, but the resources of the environment were essential for survival. Since the Ancient EgyptiansRead MoreSimilarities Between Mesopotamian And Ancient Mesopotamia1628 Words   |  7 Pagescan be shown in the Great Lyre, from the Royal Tomb of Ur, Stele of Naram-sin, from Sipper, Babylon, and Law Code of Hammurabi, which was also caved in Babylon as well. All three pieces of art are very different and are f rom different parts of Mesopotamia. However, they all have one main thing in common; the Great Lyre, the Stele of Naram-sin, and the Law Code of Hammurabi show the hierarchical shift and rise of the sun god, Utu. History The Mesopotamians had many gods and goddess. Sometimes theirRead MoreGender Roles Of Ancient Mesopotamia1543 Words   |  7 Pages Gender roles in ancient Mesopotamia were clearly defined (teachmiddleeast.edu). Generally, men worked outside of the home and women stayed inside of the home while focusing on raising their children and keeping up with work that took place in the home. However, there were exceptions; we know of women who were â€Å"bartenders† and even women who were priestesses, but with limited responsibility. Due to the fact that some were from socially higher families and owned large amounts of property, those women