Ancient Civilizations Magazine

Ancient Mesopotamia

2012-10-26T07:34:00.001-07:00

I was marveled to see the region of Mesopotamia, its rich history and impact it had on the civilization to come. Mesopotamia basically is not a country; it is a region which lies between the rivers the Euphrates and Tigris Rivers, and its area is almost the same as modern Iraq.

I was amazed to learn that the people of Mesopotamia began the agricultural revolution. They domesticate plants and sheep instead of depending on hunting for their subsistence. They live in groups in form of small villages, where houses are built from mud-bricks or reeds and they tend their crops. They store their grain in built granaries, and they have a developed token system through which they record trade and accounts. As remarkable organizing ability is required to manage huge states, therefore, it is not unusual in Mesopotamia to prepare accounts for thousands of cattle’s or tens of thousands of bundles of reeds. Since the people of Mesopotamia live together and have established agriculture system enabling them to store foods, a lot of time which was earlier spent on hunting is saved. This extra time enables them to focus on creating and inventing new tools which helps in their daily lives making it easier. One of their greatest invention is the wheel which in turn helps them to establish trade as moving things between places has become little easier now.

The social structure of Mesopotamia is segregated and is divided in to mainly three levels. At the top are the most powerful government officials, priests and soldiers. The middle class comprises of teachers, merchants, laborers craftsman, and farmers and the slaves and peasants lie at the bottom level. Though slaves are at the bottom level of social structure but generally they are treated well and can be easily identified by their specific haircut. Slaves have no rights and are generally owned by wealthy merchants. Slaves are obtained as prisoners of wars or people who could not pay debts. The pinnacle of their social order is the King. They are believed to be the ‘divinely ordained humans’, as believed by Sumerians, or literal ‘gods on earth’ as Assyrians believe. The word of the King cannot be questioned and is considered as law.

BIG ERA 3: MAIN THEMES

2012-10-25T17:51:00.000-07:00

Over the course of Big Era 3, many different methods of living and life styles are shown through out the various cultures of people like the Egyptians, or the Chinese. Many religious ideals, expressions of societal stature, new intuitiveness and creation of tools are present in Big Era 3. But I am of the belief that the most important themes are Them #6 and Theme #1, or Science, technology and the environment and Patterns of population. Technology is the main engine of creation, innovation tools and innovations pave the way to new methods of life, new ways of cultivating food, and much more. Key theme 6 illustrates the progress humans have made over the course of their existence. And key theme 1, or patterns of population gives a picture of why humans converge on certain areas, such as flood planes and river beds, explaining the movement of civilization to areas of greater benefit and ecological strength that allows populations to thrive.

Mesopotamia: Humans & Environment

2012-10-23T15:26:00.002-07:00

I have traveled through the area in between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers known as Mesopotamia for around two years, and have witnessed a great variation in cultural beliefs, customs, and environmental interaction. Though throughout the duration in my stay in Mesopotamia one civilization has received much of my attention, the Sumerians. They maintain high interaction with the Tigris and Euphrates river basin which spawned the first civilization, starting a long period of innovation, farming, and construction of amazing structures called ziggurats. I have never seen such structures in my life, other than these massive temples to the gods and king. The Sumerians have started a long tradition of agrarian life styles that interact with their environment to retrieve food that I can't see ending for thousands of years. It is no wonder that they chose this perfect environment, and started forming a stable population in the presence of a massive fertile area.

This article covers key theme one, patterns of population, because it depicts people moving to Mesopotamia and covers why they moved.

Egypt: Humans & Ideas

2012-10-23T15:24:00.003-07:00

Egypt, a land of prosperity, prosper, and bountiful harvest is a place that one can not simply forget. As I have traveled through the land many things have caught my attention, but the one aspect of Egyptian culture and idealistic concepts that has made me ponder the most is their highly expansive and interesting religion. Everywhere, I see shrines to gods, many, many gods. From Ra, the god of the sun, to Osiris, the god of the dead, there is almost a god for everything in existence. But the most interesting aspect of their culture I have encountered, is the fact that the Pharoh (King of Egypt) is displayed as a god in society, specificy Horus, god of the Pharaohs Another vexing belief maintained by the Egyptians is the belief in Ka, essentially the life force of a person, but even more intriguing, they mummify people when they die in order to maintain the body not just for the purpose of burial, but for the Ka to inhabit in the after life. The same is done with the person's possessions, internal organs, food and water, and much more. Even animals such as cats received such treatment, as they were a special and sacred portion of Egyptian society.

This article best displays key theme seven, Spiritual life & moral codes, by going into detail about what religious practices and rituals were conducted to practice scared ideals.

China: Humans & Humans

2012-10-23T15:23:00.002-07:00

In recording my travels to faraway lands, I traveled to China. This journey was filled with many perils from the terrain to the Mongol warriors. However, once I had arrived, I observed the interaction of the people of China. This country is rich in culture and it is definitely a beauty to behold. The people live in harmony from region to region and village to village. Many Chinese villages have wise elders who's words and set rules are followed to the letter. From what I can tell, everyone has their own traditions as well. In the majority of the villages, it was the men who led and women were subservient. This system is nothing out of the ordinary in these times, however, as dictators rule the land in a ferocious manner, leading a government with the rich, looming over the poor and the people who lack monetary possession. These rulers rule in dynasties, essentially entitling their offspring to reign on the throne. Though quite recently in an order they call "the mandate of heaven", the Chinese people have made the statement, that god will only accept a just and righteous ruler, a ruler that seeks out equality and fair treatment.

This article demonstrates key theme three, uses and abuses of power, due to it's explanation of how rulers interact in ways that abuse, and assist the population.

What other key themes do you think are present here?

Egypt: Humans & Environment

2012-10-23T15:20:00.003-07:00

Asim Abasi, a stern Egyptian farmer who lives by the Nile's second cataract, is for ever dependent on the waters of the Nile; and the life giving nutrients it brings his fields of crops. He has long, mangled hair and yellow eyes, and wears robes made of thick layers of cotton, stating his place as part of the ninety percent of farm workers in the massive Egyptian civilization that rely on Asim and his fellow laborers and their ability to produce a stable food supply and trade and sell it throughout the population of Egypt. But Asim is not only responsible for a great amount of land cultivation, and a family, but the construction project regarding the construction of Egypt's latest master piece, a pyramid to Amnophis, the recently crowned pharaoh of the Egypt. The project was started just four months ago, and Asim was just asked to assist in construction for a three month shift, the work is tedious and brutal; all blocks continuously checked with a plumb line to ensure they are both flat and linear. Some of the blocks these people are moving are literally hundreds of pounds. Now, on top of that, Asim takes place in the polytheistic religion in Egypt, in fact, one of the most important things to Asim is religion, he never forgets to pray and worship the gods, expressing his dedication to the cultural beliefs of egypt. Though not every person prayers to the same deities, some people may pray to Osiris, to wish their fellow family members eternal bliss in the afterlife, or maybe Ra, Horus, Isis, and many more. I watch in awe as Asim prays to Hapi, the god of the Nile, for another year of prosperity, and a manageable flood plane that will not destroy the crops, but benefit them. As I take my leave from Egypt, I will have thoughts of contemplation about the immense interaction and usage of the environment, as well as the personal expression Asim, and all other citizens of Egypt maintain with their culture as well as beliefs. It is very easy to see why populations of people have dashed to Egypt, to take advantage of the vast cultural and agricultural prosperity.

The main key themes seen here are key themes five and two. Five, or expressing identity, is prevalent as the character depicted expressing his position among society with his work and with his hair, clothes, and much more. And key theme two, economic networking due to the process in which Asim will go through to sell and trade away his harvest.