Looking for Jesus according to Matthew

[JLG]

1)

Mesopotamia, Sumeria, Akkadia, and Babylon are all terms related to the ancient civilization of Mesopotamia, but they refer to different aspects of the region and its history. Mesopotamia is the general geographic region, while Sumeria and Akkadia were civilizations within it, and Babylon was a city and later an important empire in Mesopotamian history.

Here is a more detailed difference:

Mesopotamia:

Is the geographic region that lies between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. It is the "name" of the region, not a civilization in itself.

In short, Mesopotamia is the region, Sumeria and Akkadia are ancient civilizations that existed there, and Babylon is a city and empire that developed within the region.

It is important to note that the lines between these civilizations sometimes overlap and that cultures and practices were exchanged between them.

 

[JLG]

2)

Sumer:

Was an early civilization that flourished in southern Mesopotamia. The Sumerians are recognized for inventing cuneiform writing and for their achievements in architecture and engineering.

Akkadian:

Was a civilization that developed in central and northern Mesopotamia. The Akkadians established an empire that spanned the region and adopted many Sumerian traditions, including cuneiform writing.

Babylon:

Was an important city-state within Mesopotamia, which later grew into a powerful empire, with a king and a prominent culture. Babylon was famous for its advances in mathematics, astronomy, and law.

 

[JLG]

3)

Mesopotamians are or were anyone living along or between the two rivers of the Tigris and Euphrates. Which includes but is not only the other two groups mentioned. The Sumerians or people of Sumer are likely the earliest civilization meaning cities bigger than villages, dependent on crops entirely with little or no hunting and actual administration and specialization in religion, government, warriors, over a mass of farmers.

The Sumarians spoke a language isolate. Meaning we know of no other languages like it or associated with it. They also invented cuneiform writing in which to express their thoughts and records. We can only guess at what sounded like or what its grammar was. They lived at the very end of the two rivers where they merge before emptying into the Persian Gulf.

The Akkadians were the next group up the two rivers from Sumer. They borrowed and adapted the Cuneiform Writing system to their Semitic Language. In fact because it is the earliest Semitic language showing the distinctive features of Semitic languages like all words basically coming from three consonant groups producing related words by varying the vowels or adding a distinctive fourth consonant that always produces the same effect across the language and generally writing only the consonants as the vowels are generally easy to insert by context. We in fact guess Sumerian from our knowledge of Akkadian.

 

[JLG]

4)

Over time and conquest Sumerian disappeared into Semitic languages like Babylonian, Assyrian or Syriac or Aramaic, all similar Semitic languages further north along the two rivers or actually following the fertile watered farmable lands of the Fertile Crescent up especially the Euphrates river which makes a wide loop close to the Syrian coastline often called the Syrian Littoral where the mountains catch the rain coming from the Mediterranean making the coastal lands of modern Syria, Lebanon, and Palestine able to grow crops like Mesopotamia and from which we get the earliest civilizations, empires, and the most collection of modern foods. That area produced the largest number of domesticated crops like most of our fruits, many of the cereal crops like wheat, oats, barley, and rye. And where beer was invented which is still a water extraction of various combinations of those grains then fermented creating alcohol that makes the water safe to drink by poisoning any germs that may get into the water from the larger concentration of people.

 

[JLG]

5)

Mesopotamia is a geographical term meaning 'the land between the rivers', referring to the Tigris and Euphrates. Nowadays it's mostly in Iraq. Five thousand years ago, it was the richest and most heavily-populated region of the world.

The other names you list are all nations or empires which ruled in the region of Mesopotamia at one time or another, over a period of nearly 3,000 years.

The Sumerians were people who lived in southern Mesopotamia. They were the first ever urban civilisation, and the first to invent writing in about 3000 BCE. They remained powerful until about 2300 BCE, but their culture and religion influenced later civilisations in the region for many centuries afterwards. The language they spoke, Sumerian, is now dead with no modern relatives.

The Akkadians lived in central Mesopotamia, north of the Sumerians. They spoke Akkadian, which is distantly related to Arabic, Hebrew and Aramaic. In 2334 BCE the Akkadian ruler Sargon conquered the Sumerians, creating the world's first empire. (It lasted about two centuries then collapsed into multiple smaller states.) The Akkadians admired and copied Sumerian culture even as they invaded them.

Babylon was a town in what had been the territory of the empire of Akkad in Sargon's day. In 1792 BCE its king, Hammurabi, conquered most of Mesopotamia and founded an empire, as well as creating a famous code of laws. The Babylonian Empire did not long survive Hammurabi's death, but his lasting legacy was to make Babylon itself into a huge and important city, and a major centre of religion and culture; a status it would keep for over a thousand years.

 

[JLG]

6)

Assyria was the name given to the region of northern Mesopotamia. It had been part of the Akkadian empire, but later established its independence. In the 1300s the Assyrians became expansionistic and warlike, and by 1077 BCE they had conquered all the way to Syria and the Mediterranean, as well as forcing Babylonia into vassalage. After a brief period of decline Assyria had a resurgence (the so-called 'Neo-Assyrian Empire') and between 911 and 612 BCE was the most powerful empire in the Middle East, stretching from Egypt to Persia.

Babylon and Assyria could both be described as successor-states to the Akkadian Empire; their people spoke the Akkadian language and their religions incorporated Akkadian and even Sumerian elements.

The Chaldeans were nomads from the Syria and the Levant, speaking a language related to Aramaic, who migrated into Mesopotamia around 900 BCE and settled in the far south of the region, assimilating into the local customs and learning Akkadian. By 780 they were powerful enough to make the first of several attempts to control Babylon (which at that time was a vassal state under the Assyrian empire, not independent).

In 620 the Chaldean leader Nabopolassar finally managed to conquer Babylon. In alliance with the Medes and Persians he defeated Assyria and won full independence. His son Nebuchadnezzar turned Babylon, under Chaldean rule, into a powerful empire, stretching as far as the border of Egypt. It was Nebuchadnezzar who destroyed Solomon's Temple and deported the Jews to Babylon. The so-called 'Neo-Babylonian' or Chaldean empire fell in 539 BCE when it was conquered by Achaemenid Persia.

 

[JLG]

7)

Uruk and Ur are two important ancient cities of Sumer, in Mesopotamia, but there are key differences between them. Uruk is considered one of the world's first cities and was a center of political and economic power. Ur, on the other hand, was a more trade-oriented city and played an important role in Sumer's history.

Uruk:

It is one of the oldest cities in the world, with evidence of settlements dating back to 4000 BC.

Ur:

It was an important city, but not as large as Uruk.

It was located in a strategic area for trade, near the Persian Gulf.

It was the religious center of the city, with a large ziggurat dedicated to Nanna, the moon god.

It played an important role in Sumer's history, especially in times after Uruk's decline.

In short, Uruk was a pioneering city in the history of urbanization, while Ur was an important commercial and religious center in Sumer.

 

[JLG]

8)

What is the difference between Ur and Uruk?

Both were located in Lower Mesopotamia, but were independent city-states. Uruk was the larger city-state and was founded around 4500 BC, while Ur, located near the Persian Gulf, was built around 3800 BC.

 

[JLG]

9)


The city of Ur and Uruk

Among the strongest of the Sumerian city states were Ur and Uruk.

Ur was situates near the Persian gulf and profited from maritime trade with civilizations to the east. The city itself, surrounded by a massive defensive wall of mud brick and contained 30,000 people. Near the center of the city of Ur, stood a lofty temple dedicated to the moon god, Nanna.

From the beginning, Ur was an important trade center owing to its location at a pivotal point where the Tigris and Euphrates run into the Persian Gulf. Archaeological excavations have substantiated that, early on, Ur possessed great wealth and the citizens enjoyed a level of comfort unknown in other Mesopotamian cities. As with other great urban complexes in the region, the city began as a small village which was most likely led by a priest or priest-king.Uruk had more than 50,000 inhabitants.

 

[JLG]

10)

Uruk was one of the most important cities (at one time, the most important) in ancient Mesopotamia. According to the Sumerian King List, it was founded by King Enmerkar sometime around 4500 BCE. Located in the southern region of Sumer (modern day Warka, Iraq)

It is considered the first true city in the world, the origin of writing, the first example of architectural work in stone and the building of great stone structures, the origin of the ziggurat, and the first city to develop the cylinder seal which the ancient Mesopotamians used to designate personal property or as a signature on documents. Considering the importance the cylinder seal had for the people of the time, and that it stood for one’s personal identity and reputation, Uruk could also be credited as the city which first recognized the importance of the individual in the collective community. The city was continuously inhabited from its founding until c. 300 CE when, owing to both natural and man-made influences, people began to desert the area. It lay abandoned and buried until excavated in 1853 CE by William Loftus for the British Museum.

 

[JLG]

11)

The development of cities in Mesopotamia was a gradual process that began with agricultural settlements that developed into urban centers, driven by the division of labor, irrigated agriculture, and the specialization of labor. The first cities emerged in southern Mesopotamia, such as Eridu and Uruk, and were characterized by large temples and palaces, as well as the construction of irrigation systems and canals.

Stages of Development:

Agricultural Settlements:

Initially, Mesopotamia was a region of small agricultural settlements.

Characteristics of Mesopotamian Cities:

City-States:

The geography and nature of the region fostered the development of independent city-states.

Emergence of Cities:

Beginning around 5000 BC, some of these settlements began to grow and develop urban characteristics, such as the division of labor and the construction of public buildings.

 

[JLG]

12)

Development of Urbanization:

Urbanization spread rapidly, driven by irrigated agriculture, the specialization of labor, and the need to organize the production and distribution of goods.

City-States:

The cities of Mesopotamia, such as Eridu, Uruk, Nippur, Kish, and later Uruk, became city-states, with their own governments, laws, and religious belief systems.

Empires:

Over time, some city-states, such as those in the Akkad region, managed to unify other regions, forming empires.

Temples and Palaces:

Temples and palaces were the centers of religious, political, and economic life in cities.

Irrigation Systems:

Irrigation systems, with canals and dams, were essential for agriculture and urban development.

Division of Labor and Specialization:

The division of labor and the specialization of labor were fundamental to the economic and social development of cities. Writing:

The invention of cuneiform writing allowed for the administration and recording of transactions and knowledge.

Architecture:

Mesopotamian architecture was characterized by the construction of monumental buildings, such as ziggurats, and urban planning.

 

[JLG]

Additional Elements 1)

In ancient Babylon, the arts of divination were very important practices. They were not based on riddles, but on a system of observation, measurement, collection, and testing similar to modern scientific principles. Extispicia, the interpretation of the internal organs of sacrificed animals, and prophecy, the interpretation of divine messages, were common practices. Extispicia, in particular, was considered more important than prophecy in political and military matters. According to the Journal of Production Services, the Babylonians believed that signs from heaven and earth could provide information about the future, allowing them to make informed decisions.

 

[JLG]

Additional Elements 2)

In ancient Babylon, the number 3 was not simply a number, but had important cultural and religious significance. The number 3 appears in various traditions, such as that of the three main gods Anu, Bel, and Ea, who represent Heaven, Earth, and the Abyss. It is also found in myths and tales, such as the three wishes, the three goats, the three bears, and the three little pigs.

Furthermore, the number 3 was fundamental in geometry and trigonometry. The Babylonians used the number 3 to calculate areas, volumes, and the positions of celestial bodies.

 

[JLG]

1)

Mesopotamia: The Rise of Cities
Once upon a time, in the land known as Sumer, the people built a temple to their god, who had conquered the forces of chaos and brought order to the world. They built this temple at a place called Eridu, which was "one of the southernmost places, on the very edge of the river plain and near the marshes: the transition zone between sea and land, with its shifting waters, its islands, and its deep thickets of reeds" (Leick, 2).

 

[JLG]

2)

Mythological Origins
This marshy area, surrounded by dry land and sand dunes, represented to the people the life-giving force of their god and provided the physical manifestation of the order that god had created out of chaos. The fresh waters of life were celebrated at Eridu because they were associated with what the Sumerians called the abzu, the primordial source of all existence, the realm in which the gods lived and from which they emerged.
The god Enki emerged from the abzu and dwelt in Eridu, and the Sumerian king list states that "once kingship had descended from the heavens, it was located in Eridu." This cultural center became the first city for the Sumerians: Historian Gwendolyn Leick writes:
So the Mesopotamian Eden is not a garden but a city, formed from dry land surrounded by waters. The first building is a temple... This is how Mesopotamian tradition presented the evolution and function of cities, and Eridu is the mythical paradigm. Unlike the biblical Eden, from which humans were banished forever after the Fall, Eridu remained a real place, imbued with sanctity but always accessible.
Eridu was not only the first city in the world for the Sumerians, but also the beginning of civilization. All other cities that emerged later, the Sumerians believed, had their origin in the sand and waters surrounding Eridu.

 

[JLG]

3)

Modern Theories
Modern scholars disagree on why the world's first cities arose in the Mesopotamian region and not elsewhere. Theories range from ancient alien hypotheses to social or natural upheavals that forced people to coalesce in urban centers, environmental problems, and even the forced migration of rural communities to cities. None of these theories is universally accepted, although every reputable scholar rejects the ancient alien hypothesis. However, what they do agree on is that, at the very moment the ancient Sumerians of Mesopotamia decided to begin the process of urbanization, they changed the way human beings would live forever. Historian Kriwaczek writes:
This was a revolutionary moment in human history. The [Sumerians] aimed for nothing less than to change the world. They were the first to adopt the principle that has driven progress and advancement throughout history, and that still motivates most of us today: the conviction that it is humanity's right, its mission and its destiny, to transform and improve nature and become its master.

 

[JLG]

4)

The Eridu site doesn't offer much to suggest that it was once anything more than a sacred center; perhaps something we would define today as a large town or village.
The principle Kriwaczek refers to may be nothing more than the natural inclination of human beings to gather together for safety from the elements, or it may be rooted in religion and shared religious practices, which, among the benefits they offer, offer reassurance that there is order and meaning behind the seemingly random events of life. Historian Lewis Mumford states that "the habit of resorting to caves for the collective celebration of magical ceremonies appears to date back to an earlier period, and whole communities, living in caves and hollowed-out rock faces, have survived in widely scattered areas to the present day." The design of the city as an external form as well as an internal pattern of life may have had equally ancient origins". Whatever led to the development of the first cities in Mesopotamia, the world would never be the same again.

 

[JLG]

5)

Kriwaczek writes:
From before 4000 BC, for the next ten to fifteen centuries, the people of Eridu and their neighbors laid the foundations for almost everything we know as civilization. It has been called the Urban Revolution, although in reality the invention of cities was the least of it. With cities came the centralized state, the hierarchy of social classes, the division of labor, organized religion, monumental construction, civil engineering, writing, literature, sculpture, art, music, education, mathematics, and law, not to mention an enormous range of new inventions and discoveries, from things as basic as wheeled vehicles and ships to the potter's kiln, metallurgy, and the creation of synthetic materials. And to top it all off, there's the enormous collection of notions and ideas so fundamental to our way of seeing the world, such as the concept of numbers, or weights, completely independent of the objects being counted or weighed (the number 10, or a kilo), which we've long since forgotten had to be discovered or invented. Southern Mesopotamia is the place where all this was first achieved.

 

[JLG]

6)

The Rise of Uruk
The concept of a city, first expressed in the construction of Eridu, did not remain there for long. Urbanization spread rapidly throughout the Sumerian region beginning around 4500 BC with the rise of the city of Uruk, now considered the world's first city. Eridu may be the world's first city, as Sumerian myths proclaim, but Eridu was founded around 5400 BC, long before the invention of writing (around 3000 BC), and by then, Uruk had been established for some time and had created and discarded numerous artifacts that today attest to its size and population, thus substantiating the claim that Uruk is the world's first city. The Eridu site, on the other hand, does not offer much to suggest that it was ever anything more than a sacred center, perhaps something that today we would define as a large town or village.