ANTH 111 Lecture 21: March 25 – Anthro 111
Document Summary
First agricultural societies fertile cresent in the middle east. World"s first cities lower mesopotamia in sumerian heartland- first use of irrigation. First irrigation canals required lots of laborers tells us about some social organization and the presence of some leader priestly class suspected to have over seen irrigation maintenance. Evidence of leadership staff of power , sculpture. Two resources led to rise of mesopotamian cities water and alluvium (fertile soil) Uruk is world"s first city ruled by a temple elite. Manufacture of copper objects, statues, for uruk elite. Copper is too soft to be used for weapons so it is combined with tin to make bronze weapons. Tin is not native to mesopotamia so it must be transported from abroad. Deforestation and soil salinization widespread as result of intensive agriculture and urbaniza- tion. Burial of queen bu abi at city of ur along with much of her possessions include animals and hu- man slaves.
