Social Sciences and History / Unit 3 SSH 0203 short lesson, about 20 seconds
Mesopotamia: Writing, Gods, Walls
Captions available
The idea
Between the Tigris and Euphrates, cities rose from about thirty-five hundred BCE, with cuneiform writing, ziggurat temples, capricious gods appeased by priests, and thick walls held by peasant conscripts. Defense beat offense, so cities warred without conquering.
In practice
Sargon's empire, the first to rule beyond one city.
Where people slip
Mathematics, astronomy, kingdoms and bureaucracy began here, in the anchor's account.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
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