«All converge in Mesopotamia,
There Eden here beginning
There was once a common speech
Word of God sounded ...»
( Konstantin Mikhailov )
While on the territory of ancient Europe roamed wild nomadsthe East vengeance is very interesting (sometimes unexplained) event.About them colorfully written in the Old Testament and other historical sources.For example, such well-known biblical stories like the Tower of Babel and the Flood, occurred just in the territory of Mesopotamia.
Ancient Mesopotamia without embellishment can be called the cradle of civilization.It was on this land around the 4th century BC, was born the first Oriental civilization.Such states of Mesopotamia (ancient Mesopotamia in Greek) as Sumer and Akkad, gave mankind the writing and the amazing church buildings.Also go on a tour of this land full of secrets!
Geographical location
What was the name of Mesopotamia?Mesopotamia.The second name of Mesopotamia - Entre Rios.You can also hear the word Naharai - this is also it is the only Hebrew.
Mesopotamia - a historical and geographical area, located between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers.Who on this earth there are three states: Iraq, Syria and Turkey.The history of civilization of ancient Mesopotamia was developed in this area.
Located in the heart of the Middle East region is bounded to the west of the Arabian platform, from the east - the foothills of the Zagros.In the south of Mesopotamia, bordering the Persian Gulf, and in the north tower scenic mountains of Ararat.
Mesopotamia is a flat plain, which stretches along the two great rivers.In form it is similar to an oval shape - this is an amazing Mesopotamia (the card supports this).
division into regions of Mesopotamia
Historians conventionally divided on Mesopotamia:
- Upper Mesopotamia - the northern part of the region.Since ancient times (from the middle of the 1st millennium BC) was called "Assyria".Many years later, in the area formed the modern Syria with a capital in the beautiful city of Damascus.
- Lower Mesopotamia - is the southern part of Mesopotamia.It was densely populated by people before our era.In turn, the Southern Mesopotamia is also divided into two separate regions.Namely, in the northern and southern parts.First (northern part) originally called Ki-Uri, and then Akkad.The second (the southern part) was called Sumer.Hence it was born a beautiful and sonorous name of one of the earliest cradles of civilization - "Sumer and Akkad."Later this historic area became known as Babylonia.Noteworthy is the fact that it is there is the legendary Tower, according to tradition, reaching its growth to the sky.
in the ancient Mesopotamia at different times there were four ancient kingdoms:
- Schumer;
- Akkad;
- Babylonia;
- Assyria.
Why Mesopotamia was the cradle of civilization?
About 6 thousand years ago our planet was an amazing event: around the same time were born two civilizations - Egypt and ancient Mesopotamia.The nature of civilization both like and unlike the first ancient state.
similarity is that both occurred in areas with favorable conditions for human life.I do not like the fact that each of them has a unique history (the first thing that comes to mind: in Egypt, the pharaohs were, and in Mesopotamia - no).
theme of the article, though, the state of Mesopotamia.Therefore, we will not deviate from it.
Ancient Mesopotamia - a kind of oasis in the desert.On both sides of the area enclosed by the rivers.And from the north - the mountains that protect the oasis from the humid winds from the Armenian side.
These favorable natural features have made the land attractive to ancient man.Surprisingly comfortable climate is combined with the ability to engage in agriculture.The soil is so fertile and rich in moisture that produced succulent fruits grown and sprouted beans - delicious.
first noticed this ancient Sumerians, who settled in the area about 6000 years ago.They learned how to skillfully to grow a variety of plants, and left behind a rich history, mysteries which still decide enthusiastic people.
little conspiracy: the origin of the Sumerians
modern history does not answer the question, where did the Sumerians.There is much speculation about this, but a consensus scientific community has not yet come.Why is that?Because the Sumerians greatly stand out from the rest of the tribes in Mesopotamia.
One of the obvious differences - a language he does not look like any of the dialects spoken by the residents of neighboring areas.That is, it has no resemblance to the Indo-European language - the precursor of most modern languages.
also looks inhabitants of ancient Sumer was not typical of the inhabitants of those places.On the plates depict people with smooth ovals those amazing big eyes, delicate features, and above-average growth.
Another point on which historians pay attention - this is an unusual culture of an ancient civilization.One hypothesis states that the Sumerians - are representatives of advanced civilization, arrived from the cosmos to our planet.This view is rather strange, but it has a right to exist.
How was it really - is unclear.But one can say with precision - the Sumerians gave a lot to our civilization.One of them is undeniable achievements - the invention of writing.
ancient civilization of Mesopotamia
Different nations longest inhabited territory of Mesopotamia.We distinguish two main (history of Mesopotamia without them would not be so saturated):
- Sumerians;
- Semites (to be more precise, the Semitic peoples: Arabs, Armenians and Jews).
Based on this, we'll talk about the most interesting events and historical figures.
order to keep the general outline of our story, we begin the story of the ancient civilizations of Sumerian kingdom.
Schumer: brief historical background
It was first written civilization emerged in the southeast of Mesopotamia from the 4th to 3rd century BC.Now this area is the modern state of Iraq (ancient Mesopotamia, the map again helps us to navigate).
Sumerians - the only non-Semitic people in the territory of Mesopotamia.This is confirmed by numerous linguistic and cultural studies.The official history says that the Sumerians in Mesopotamia came from some mountainous Asian country.
They began their journey to the east of Entre Rios: settled along river mouths and settled irrigation farming.The first city, which stopped the representatives of this ancient civilization was Heredia.Next Sumerians moved deep into the plain: they are not subjugated the local population and assimilated;sometimes even took over the some cultural achievements of savage tribes.
Sumerian history - a fascinating process of struggle between different groups of people under the leadership of a king.State reached its peak under the rule of the Ummah Lugalzagesse.
Babylonian historian Berossus in his work divided the Sumerian history into two periods:
- before the Flood (meaning it is the Great Flood and Noah's story, described in the Old Testament);
- after the Flood.
Culture of Ancient Mesopotamia (Sumer)
first settlements Sumerians differed originality - it was a small town surrounded by stone walls;They lived in the 40 to 50 thousand people.An important town in the south-east of the country was Ur.Centre Sumerian kingdom was recognized by the city of Nippur, located in the center of the country.Known largest temple of God Enlil.
Sumerians were fairly advanced civilization, we list what they have achieved heights.
- in agriculture.This is evidenced by extant agricultural almanac.It describes in detail how to grow plants when they need watering, how to plow the soil.
- in the craft.The Sumerians were able to build the house and knew how to use a potter's wheel.
- in writing.On it will be discussed in our next chapter.
Legend about the origin of writing
most important inventions occur fairly strange way, especially when it comes to ancient times.The appearance of writing is no exception.
Argued two ancient Sumerian ruler together.This was expressed in the fact that they are guessing each other puzzles and share them via their ambassadors.One ruler was very inventive and came up with such a complex puzzle that his ambassador was not able to remember it.Then I had to invent writing.
Sumerians wrote on clay boards reed sticks.At first the letters were depicted in the form of signs and hieroglyphs, and then - in the form of connected syllables.This process is called cuneiform.
culture of ancient Mesopotamia Sumerian inconceivable without.Nearby nations borrowed writing skills at this civilization.
Babylonia (Babylonian Empire)
state arose early in the second millennium BC in southern Mesopotamia.Having existed about 15 centuries, leaving behind a rich history and interesting monuments.
Amorites Semitic peoples inhabiting the territory of the state of Babylon.They adopted earlier Sumerian culture, but has talked in the Akkadian language, which belongs to the Semitic group.
Ancient Babylon arose on the site of an earlier Sumerian city Kadingir.
key historical figure was king Hammurabi.During his military campaigns, he conquered the plurality of adjacent cities.Also wrote extant work - "The laws of Mesopotamia (Hammurabi)."
Tell us more about recorded a wise king rules of social life.Hammurabi's laws are written on a clay tablet phrase governing the rights and obligations of the average Babylonian.Historians have speculated that the presumption of innocence and the principle of "an eye for an eye" was first formulated just Hammurabi.
Some principles ruler invented himself, some - copied from earlier Sumerian sources.
Hammurabi say that ancient civilization was actually developed as people abide by certain rules and already had an idea of what is good and what is bad.
original work is in the Louvre, with an exact copy can be found in some Moscow museum.
Tower of Babel
cities of Mesopotamia - is a topic for another job.We will stop at Babylon, the one where there are interesting events described in the Old Testament.
Please tell an interesting story of the biblical Tower of Babel, then - the views of the scientific community on this issue.The legend of the Tower of Babel - is the story of the appearance of different languages in the world.The first mention of it is found in the Book of Genesis: the event occurred after the Flood.
In those ancient times, mankind has been one nation, therefore, all people speak the same language.They moved to the south, and came to the lower reaches of the Tigris and Euphrates.They decided to found a city (Babylon) and to build a tower to heaven.The work was in full swing at all ... But then God intervened in the process.He created different languages, so people no longer understand each other.It is clear that very soon the construction of the tower was discontinued.The finale was the history of human settlement in different parts of our planet.
What does the scientific community about the Tower of Babel?Scientists suggest that the Tower of Babel was one of the ancient temples to observe the stars and religious ceremonies.Such structures called ziggurats.Highest Temple (height reached 91 meters) was in Babylon.His name sounded like "Etemenanki."The literal translation of the word - "House, where converge the sky with the Earth."
Assyrian Empire
first mention of Assyria date from the 24th century BC.The state has existed for two thousand years.And in the seventh century BC, it has ceased to exist.Assyrian Empire recognized as the first in the history of mankind.
State stationed in Northern Mesopotamia (in present-day Iraq).Militancy is different: a lot of cities conquered and destroyed the Assyrian commanders.They capture not only the territory of Mesopotamia, and the territory of the Kingdom of Israel and Cyprus.There was an attempt to subdue the ancient Egyptians, but it was not a success - after 15 years the people of this country regained independence.
It captured the public used brutal measures: the Assyrians obliged to pay monthly tribute.
Large Assyrian cities were:
- Ashur;
- Calah;
- Dur-Sharrukin (Palace of Sargon).
Assyrian culture and religion
Here again is a connection to the Sumerian culture.Talked Assyrians in the northern dialect of Akkadian.The schools studied literary works of the Sumerians and Babylonians;Some moral norms of ancient civilizations have been taken by the Assyrians.In the palaces and temples of local architects portrayed a brave lion, a symbol of military success of the empire.Assyrian literature, again, is connected with the campaigns of the local rulers: kings always described as courageous and brave people, and their opponents, in contrast, shows the cowardly and petty (here it is possible to notice an obvious admission of state propaganda).
Religion
Mesopotamia Ancient Mesopotamia civilization is inherently linked to the local religion.Moreover, their inhabitants firmly believed in the gods and be sure to perform certain rituals.Speaking very generally, it is polytheism (the belief in various gods) is different from ancient Mesopotamia.To better understand the religion of Mesopotamia, you need to read the local epic.One of the most outstanding literary works of the time - it is a myth of Gilgamesh.Thoughtful reading this book suggests that the hypothesis of extraterrestrial origin of the Sumerians is not groundless.
ancient civilization of Mesopotamia gave us three basic mythology:
- Sumerian-Akkadian.
- Babel.
- Assyria.
consider in more detail each of them.
Sumerian religion
include all beliefs shumeroyazychnogo population.Also included religion Akkadians.The gods of Mesopotamia uniform figure: every major city had its own pantheon, and their temples.Still, the similarity can be found.
list the important Sumerian gods:
- An (Ana - Akkad.) - God of the sky, is responsible for the space and stars.He was highly esteemed by the ancient Sumerians.Considered passive ruler, that is, not to interfere in people's lives.
- Enlil - lord of the air, the second most important god of the Sumerians.Only, unlike Ana is an active deity.His revered as responsible for fertility, productivity and peaceful life.
- Ishtar (Inanna) - the key to the goddess of Sumerian religion.Details about it are very contradictory: on the one hand, she is the patroness of fertility and good relations between man and woman, and the other - a fierce warrior.These inconsistencies occur due to a large number of different sources, which contain references to it.
- Mind (Sumerian variant pronunciation) or Shamash (Akkadian version, indicating the similarity of the language with Hebrew as "Shemesh" means sun).
Babylonian mythology
main ideas for his adopted religion of the Sumerians.However, significant complications.
Babylonian religion was based on the belief of man in his helplessness before the gods of the pantheon.It is clear that such an ideology rested on fear and restricts the development of ancient man.Similar structures have managed to build the priests: they were carried out in a ziggurat (high majestic temples) various manipulations, including a complex ritual sacrifice.
in Babylon revered gods were as follows:
- Tammuz - is the patron saint of agriculture, vegetation and fertility.The connection to the same Sumerian cult and resurrecting a dying god of vegetation.
