ANTH 1010H Chapter Notes - Chapter 10: An Yang, Uruk Period, Oracle Bone
3 Sep 2013
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Document Summary
The region along the tigris and euphrates rivers, in modern iraq. There are 3 important consequences of the geological position of mesopotamia: many early sites are deeply buried by the deposit of river silts. As a result, little is known about the. Palaeolithic and neolithic periods of the tigris and euphrates river valleys: there are no mineral resources in southern mesopotamia, the soils of mesopotamia are extremely fertile. The first cities in mesopotamia developed during the uruk period, between 4000 and 3200bc. Uruk: the oldest known city in the world, ziggurats are stepped pyramids found at the centre of many mesopotamian temple precincts. Mesopotamian society revolved around three sources of authority: the temple, the palace, the city council. It is possible that during these periods, the chief priest of the temple was the ruler of the city. The king was selected by a city council. The growth of the cities of mesopotamia was based on the production of agricultural surplus.
