The emergence of the first cities most likely took place in southern Mesopotamia in the 4th millennium BC, known as the "Late Uruk" period. The massive remains dominate the landscape of southern Iraq today. During the 3rd millennium, the "Early Dynastic" period, a number of cities existed that were eventually united under Sargon of Agade in 2300 BC. Each city had a particular god, housed in a main temple with human attendants. Crops of barley, sesame and onions were watered by means of artificial canals. Sheep, pigs, goats, and cattle were utilized with wool production, dairy farming, and brewing being major industries. The main temple had spacious courtyards, cult rooms, living quarters, and store rooms.
Temple accounts are known to be the first written receipts, with the earliest pictographic clay Sumerian written tablets coming from Uruk dating to around 3100 BC. The earliest known works of Sumerian literature are from Abu Salabikh and date to about 2500 BC. Writing was attributed to the scribes who were trained in the temples. It is the practice of copying documents that have provided knowledge of the traditions of these early cities, later found in Akkadian texts. Though little is known about social structure, kings did exist...as referenced in a document called the Sumerian King List. |
