Mesopotamia and the Sumerians

How is Mesopotamia a center of civilization where the Euphrates and Tigris rivers meet? How did the Sumerians, who migrated from Central Asia, establish the oldest civilization here 6000 years ago? What are the beliefs and traditions of famous city-states like Ur, Uruk, and Lagash?

🏛️ MESOPOTAMIA AND THE SUMERIANS

(One of the oldest centers of civilization)

Mesopotamia is the name given by the Romans to the place where the Euphrates and Tigris rivers converge before emptying into the sea. After these two rivers merge, the combined waterway is called the Shatt al-Arab.

Geography

 
• On the fertile (mübit) lands created by these rivers, the world’s oldest and greatest centers of civilization after Central Asia emerged.

 

• In terms of history, Mesopotamia is divided into two regions:
   
  • Lower Mesopotamia: The part extending from Baghdad to the Persian Gulf (Chaldea, Shinar, and Elam).

   

  • Upper Mesopotamia: The northern part (Assyria).

Sumerians

 
• History: The Sumerians migrated from Central Asia 6000 years ago and came to Southern Mesopotamia, and they are the people who established the oldest civilizations here.

 

• Development: The Sumerians drained the swamps in the region, developing small villages into sites and cities.

 

• Cities: Their most famous cities are; Ur, Uruk, Lagash, Larsa, Kish. Each of these cities was headed by a ruler.

 

• Beliefs: Mesopotamians worshipped natural gods such as earth, sky, and sun gods, and kept their statues in their temples. Each god had a duty.

 

• Interesting Tradition: In the excavations carried out in the city of Ur, mannequins (statues) left by Mesopotamian men in temples when going to war were found. It was believed that these mannequins would worship in their place while they were fighting, and thus they would win the war.