Mesopotamia: The cradle of civilization?
Civilization is defined as "a advanced state of intellectual, cultural, and material development in human society, marked by progress in the arts and sciences, the extensive use of record-keeping, including writing, and the appearance of complex political and social institutions." (The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 2000) Often called the cradle of civilization, Mesopotamia or "the land between the rivers" is thought by many to be the birthplace of what we know today as civilized life. But based on this definition can one say that is was a truly great civilization? The answer is yes, the many scientific, political and social advances brought about by the people of Mesopotamia overshadow any reservations one might have about calling Mesopotamia a "great civilization".The fact alone that the Mesopotamians were able to survive in the unforgiving land between the rivers says much about the strength and adaptability of this civilization. Mesopotamia, located in what in what is now Iraq, was a harsh and unpredictable land compared to Egypt and the Nile (Newman, Garfield. 2001), which floods o
5 m long, 43 m wide, 20 m high) and were intricately decorated. The Sumerians were the first people to develop writing and also created the wheel possibly the two most important inventions in world history. Religion also played a very integral part in Mesopotamian life (Newman, Garfield. Although much of the art may be considered dull or stereotypical today, very lifelike and interesting qualities have been found in art and statues that were thought to be created around 2300-2150 BCE (Snell, Daniel C. 3600 gods and demigods contributed to the wonder and mystery of this religion, Mesopotamia shared essentially the same religion throughout thousands of years, regardless of the dominant group at the time (Saggs, W. They learned to use the rivers to their advantage by placing their villages on top of natural levees which provided rich soil and easy irrigation for agriculture. Over time Mesopotamia also developed a very rich culture and religion. Artists created gold works, statues and murals with extensive use of precious gems and minerals which were not easily come by. The importance placed on religion is clear from the impressive ziggurats, which were glorious magnificent on top of complex platforms. By reviewing the wonders that the Mesopotamians were able accomplish with no precedent set before them, one could truly say that this was the cradle of civilization. The groups that inhabited Mesopotamia also brought key advancements in technology and thought, many of which are still in use today.
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