Looking for Jesus according to Matthew

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- Evolution of the population of the Sumerian city of Ur: (2)

The population of the Sumerian city of Ur grew from a small village, likely originating around 3800 BCE, to one of the largest cities in the world by the 3rd millennium BCE, possibly reaching 65,000 people between 2030 and 1980 BCE during the Ur III Dynasty. The city's size and influence fluctuated over its history, eventually diminishing after the fall of the Ur III Dynasty to the Elamites around 1940 BCE.
Early Settlement & Growth

• Origins:
  Ur began as a small village around 3800 BCE, developing on the banks of the Euphrates River.

Peak in the 3rd Millennium BCE

• Ur III Dynasty:
  During this period (late 3rd millennium BCE), Ur became a major administrative and commercial center.

Decline

• Fall of the Dynasty:
  The city's importance declined with the fall of the Ur III Dynasty to the Elamites around 1940 BCE.
  

Ubaid Period:
The initial inhabitants were likely from the Ubaid culture, who were known for their agricultural advancements.
Largest City:
At its peak, Ur was likely the largest city in the world, with an estimated population of about 65,000 people.
Abandonment:
The city was eventually abandoned, likely shortly after the Islamic conquest in the 7th century CE.

 

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Ur (3)

• Origins:
  Ur began as a small village around 3800 BCE, developing on the banks of the Euphrates River.

Peak in the 3rd Millennium BCE

• Ur III Dynasty:
  During this period (late 3rd millennium BCE), Ur became a major administrative and commercial center.

 

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- Chronology of the Sumerian city of Larsa: (1)

Larsa rose to prominence after the Ur III collapse (c. 2004 BCE), becoming a major power during the Isin-Larsa period alongside Isin and eventually dominating southern Mesopotamia under Rim-Sin I. Its independence ended in 1763 BCE when Hammurabi of Babylon conquered the city, ushering in the Old Babylonian period. Larsa remained occupied, though with diminished influence, until the Hellenistic period.
Early History

• Pre-historic Origins:
  Larsa was likely founded during the Ubaid period (c. 6000-4000 BCE). It also appears on proto-cuneiform lists from the late 4th millennium BCE.

The Isin-Larsa Period

• Post-Ur III:
  Following the collapse of the Ur III Dynasty (c. 2112-2004 BCE), Larsa gained power and emerged as a key player in the ensuing period of fragmented city-states.

Babylonian Domination

• Conquest by Hammurabi:
  Larsa's imperial ambitions were cut short when Hammurabi of Babylon captured the city in 1763 BCE.
• Decline:
  Under Babylonian rule, Larsa never regained its former power and influence.

Later History

• Hellenistic Period: The city was occupied until the Hellenistic period.
• Shamash's Temple: The famous Ebabbar temple, dedicated to the sun god Shamash, was a prominent feature of Larsa for much of its history, with its origins likely in the early 2nd millennium BCE.

Sumerian King List:
The city is listed as a city of importance before the legendary Great Flood.
Annexation by Lagash:
Larsa was annexed by Eannatum of Lagash at an earlier, yet unspecified, point in its history, indicating its early presence as a territorial entity.
Rise to Power:
Gungunum, an Amorite governor appointed by Isin, broke away from Isin and established an independent dynasty in Larsa, transforming it into a major power that controlled surrounding city-states.
Peak of Power:
Larsa reached its zenith during the reign of Rim-Sin I (c. 1822-1763 BCE), who defeated its rival Isin in 1794 BCE, extending Larsa's regional hegemony.

 

[JLG]

- Evolution of the population of the Sumerian city of Larsa: (2)

Larsa's population evolved from prehistoric origins to significant growth in the Early Dynastic period, peaking in influence under King Rim-Sin I before its eventual decline and incorporation into the Babylonian empire around 1700 BCE. While precise population numbers aren't available for Larsa specifically, archaeological evidence shows huge building projects during its prosperous Isin-Larsa period, followed by its decline to a "minor site" after its defeat by Hammurabi.
Early Origins and Growth

• Larsa, founded in the Ubaid period (c. 6000-4000 BCE), emerged as a significant city-state by the end of the Ur III period (c. 2000 BCE).

Peak Period (Isin-Larsa Period)

• Under King Rim-Sin I (c. 1822–1763 BC), Larsa reached its height of power.

Decline and Aftermath

• After Hammurabi of Babylon defeated Rim-Sin I around 1763 BCE, Larsa transitioned from a dominant regional power to a minor site within the Babylonian empire.
  

It developed into a prominent regional power, initially joining with Isin and then establishing itself as a stand-alone empire controlling about 10-15 other city-states.

This era was a period of prosperity, with agricultural and trade flourished, supported by extensive irrigation projects and business documentation.

Huge building projects and undertakings were detected archaeologically during this time, indicating a flourishing city and population.

The Babylonian state eventually relocated the city's population.

There are suggestions that Larsa was the home of the First Sealand Dynasty of Babylon, but this remains a point of discussion.

 

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Larsa (3)

• Larsa, founded in the Ubaid period (c. 6000-4000 BCE), emerged as a significant city-state by the end of the Ur III period (c. 2000 BCE).

Peak Period (Isin-Larsa Period)

• Under King Rim-Sin I (c. 1822–1763 BC), Larsa reached its height of power.

 

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The Bronze age (13)

Egypt started making bronze when people discovered that mixing tin with copper created a harder, more durable alloy, a technology that began around 3000 BC and became more widespread during the New Kingdom. Initially, Egyptians used naturally arsenic-rich copper ores, but as they learned to intentionally add tin, they developed true tin-based bronze. This innovation allowed for the creation of better tools, weapons, and vessels, marking a significant technological advancement and the beginning of Egypt's Bronze Age.

The Discovery and Early Development

• From Copper to Bronze:
  Ancient Egyptians, like other civilizations, initially worked with pure copper, a relatively soft metal.

Factors Leading to the Use of Bronze

• Improved Properties:
  Bronze is harder and more durable than pure copper, and it has a lower melting point, making it easier to cast into complex shapes for tools, weapons, and larger objects.

Impact on Egyptian Society

• Widespread Use: By the New Kingdom (c. 1550-1069 BC), tin bronze was in common use.
  

Accidental Alloying:
Early bronze artifacts were likely the result of accidental alloying, where copper ores naturally mixed with tin or arsenic-rich ores during smelting.

Arsenical Copper vs. Tin Bronze:
Early Egyptian copper often naturally contained arsenic, making it a type of arsenical copper that was harder than pure copper but still a different alloy than true tin bronze.

The Shift to Tin Bronze:
Around 3000 BC, a shift occurred towards intentionally adding tin to copper, leading to the creation of true tin bronze. This allowed for a more controlled and superior product.

Technological Advancements:
The development of more sophisticated smelting techniques, including the use of foot bellows to increase furnace temperatures, was crucial for processing bronze.

Trade and Resources:
The availability of tin, though not as widespread as copper, became essential. The development of trade in tin, particularly with regions like Cyprus, facilitated the spread of bronze technology.

Sophisticated Civilization: The Bronze Age saw Egypt become a more technologically advanced and sophisticated civilization, as bronze replaced stone for many implements and weapons.

 

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The Bronze age (14)

Mining in the Ancient World​

Evidence of mining activities has been discovered from days well before recorded history. The oldest of these ancient mines was found in Swaziland in Africa, where the remains of tools and signs of activities around a soft haematite ore deposit were carbon dated to 41,000 BCE.

The first societies to use metals on a large scale emerged in Mesopotamia around 3500 BCE and Egypt around 3000 BCE, according to the Canada Institute of Mining, which means that mining operations had to grow to keep up with the demand. Egyptian copper mines were mostly concentrated in the Nubian Desert in northern Sudan and the Timna Valley in modern Israel, huge underground operations with shafts up to 30 meters deep.

Mining began to truly evolve with Roman innovations, including aqueducts, according to Ancient History. This architectural invention was used to power mill machines, together creating a prototype for the on-site materials processing center. The aqueducts would also fill large tanks for techniques like hushing and fire-quenching.

Hushing consisted of unleashing the tanks of water into the mine to wash away earth and expose the resource being extracted below. In fire-quenching, water was released from the tanks to fracture rock that had been previously heated. The quick cooling of the stone would cause it to break and reveal vital metals for collection.

 

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The Bronze age (15)

The Maykop culture started making bronze, specifically arsenical bronze, independently in the North Caucasus as early as the mid-4th millennium BC. Their advanced understanding of metallurgy allowed them to discover and refine bronze, an alloy of copper and other metals like arsenic, which provided harder tools and weapons than pure copper. This early development of bronze technology by the Maykop culture predates its widespread use in other parts of Europe and Asia, making them producers of some of the earliest known bronze.
The Discovery of Bronze

• Accidental Discovery:
  Bronze was likely discovered when copper, being heated at low temperatures for tools or during campfire construction, unintentionally mixed with other metals present in the surrounding rocks, such as arsenic.

Key Factors

• Resource-Rich Region:
  The Caucasus region was rich in metal resources, making it a prime location for the early development of metallurgy.

Impact

• Advancement in Technology:
  The independent discovery and use of arsenical bronze by the Maykop culture represent a significant advancement in ancient technology.
• Early Bronze Production:
  The Maykop culture was one of the first societies to produce bronze, establishing them as pioneers in metalworking during the early Bronze Age.

Maykop's Innovation:
The Maykop culture in the North Caucasus region developed the technology to deliberately produce arsenical bronze, creating a harder metal than pure copper.
Cultural Exchange:
While the Maykop culture had indigenous origins, their development of metalworking likely benefited from cultural exchanges, particularly with pastoralist groups.

 

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The Bronze age (16)

Indus Valley​

The Bronze Age on the Indian subcontinent began c. 3300 BC with the beginning of the Indus Valley Civilization. Inhabitants of the Indus Valley, the Harappans, developed new techniques in metallurgy and produced copper, bronze, lead, and tin. The Late Harappan culture (1900–1400 BC), overlapped the transition from the Bronze Age to the Iron Age; thus it is difficult to date this transition accurately. It has been claimed that a 6,000-year-old copper amulet manufactured in Mehrgarh in the shape of a wheel spoke is the earliest example of lost-wax casting in the world.

The civilisation's cities were noted for their urban planning, baked brick houses, elaborate drainage systems, water supply systems, clusters of large non-residential buildings, and new techniques in handicraft (carnelian products, seal carving) and metallurgy (copper, bronze, lead, and tin).The large cities of Mohenjo-daro and Harappa likely grew to contain between 30,000 and 60,000 people, and the civilisation during its florescence may have contained between one and five million people.

The Harappans started making bronze by first mining local copper, often from the Khetri mines in Rajasthan, and then acquiring tin, which was sourced from distant regions like Afghanistan through extensive trade networks. They melted these metals together at high temperatures, carefully controlling the mix and temperature to create the bronze alloy. The molten bronze was then poured into molds, commonly made from clay, to cast objects such as tools, weapons, and ornamental items.

Acquiring the Metals

• Copper:
  The Harappans had abundant local sources of copper ore. They mined it from regions like the Aravalli ranges and the Khetri mines in Rajasthan.

The Alloying Process

1. Smelting: Copper ore was first smelted in furnaces to extract pure copper metal.
2. Melting and Alloying: The copper and tin were then melted together at high temperatures, typically between 1,100 and 1,200 degrees Celsius. This process required skilled artisans to maintain precise control over the temperature and the ratio of copper to tin to achieve the desired bronze alloy.

Casting the Bronze

• Molds:
  Once melted, the molten bronze was poured into prepared molds, which were typically made from clay or stone.

Products of Bronze

The Harappans used bronze to create a wide variety of artifacts, including:

• Tools like knives, axes, and chisels
• Weapons such as spears, daggers, and arrowheads
• Ornamental items including rings, bangles, and statues
• Vessels and cooking pots

Tin:
Unlike copper, tin was not locally abundant and was often obtained through trade with distant regions, possibly from Afghanistan or Oman.

Lost-Wax Technique:
For creating detailed figurines and statues, the Harappans used the "lost wax" (or cire perdue) technique.

 

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The Bronze age (17)
Conclusion:

- According to a theory, the Bronze age started because of an accidental discovery!

- One theory suggests that copper and tin-rich rocks, used in the construction of campfire rings, melted and mixed when heated by the fire, creating the first bronze!

- Or it was transmitted by the angels who went down on the earth with other technologies!

- Imagine an accidental discovery which permitted human society to take a giant step!

- On the one hand, by chance, on the other hand by angels who had an incredible knowledge and experience accumulated through a long existence at Yah.weh's side!

 

[JLG]

- Chronology of the Sumerian city of Isin: (1)

Isin began with Ubaid period occupation, saw significant Early Dynastic and Akkadian period activity, and underwent intensive building under the Ur III empire before its major rise during the Isin-Larsa period (c. 2004–1763 BCE) after the Ur III collapse. Founded by Ishbi-Erra, this Amorite dynasty ruled much of southern Mesopotamia before falling to Larsa, and then Babylon, leading to a period of abandonment. The site resumed activity under the Kassites, but Isin's dominance over the region ended when Rīm-Sîn I of Larsa conquered it around 1786/5 BCE.
Pre-Dynastic and Ur III Periods

• Ubaid Period (c. 6500–3800 BCE): Initial occupation of the Isin site is evident from pottery shards.

Isin-Larsa Period & Amorite Rule

• Post-Ur III Collapse (c. 2004 BCE):
  The Ur III state collapsed due to Elamite and Amorite attacks, leading to the formation of independent city-states.

Post-Larsa Period

• Babylonian Conquest: After Larsa's rise, the city eventually fell to the growing power of Babylon, leading to a period of abandonment.
  

Early Dynastic Period (c. 2900–2350 BCE): Significant settlement and activity began.

Akkadian Empire (c. 2334–2154 BCE): Isin was occupied during this era.

Ur III Empire (c. 2112–2004 BCE): Intensive building programs took place in Isin, and it remained a vital center.
Foundation of Isin Dynasty (c. 2017 BCE):
Ishbi-Erra, an Amorite ruler, founded an independent dynasty at Isin.
Isin-Larsa Period (c. 2004–1763 BCE):
Isin and its rival, Larsa, were the dominant powers in southern Mesopotamia. The dynasty of Isin reigned for about a century before falling to Larsa.
Larsa's Rise:
Rīm-Sîn I of Larsa conquered Isin around 1786/5 BCE, ending its independence and marking the end of the Isin-Larsa period.

Kassite Activity: Activity at Isin resumed during the Kassite period.

Later periods: The site continued to be occupied, with structures like the Egalmah temple being rebuilt during the Neo-Babylonian Empire.

 

[JLG]

- Evolution of the population of the Sumerian city of Isin: (2)

The city of Isin experienced population shifts and significant events, with notable increases in the Early Dynastic period and the subsequent Isin-Larsa period, but it later suffered abandonment and population displacement following the fall of Ur around 1794 BC, and experienced a decline in population from 2100 BC to 1700 BC.
Early to Mid-3rd Millennium BC (Early Dynastic Period)

• Early Occupation: The site of Isin was occupied as early as the Ubaid period, but significant growth began in the Early Dynastic period in the early to mid-3rd millennium BC.

Late 3rd Millennium BC (Ur III and Akkadian Empires)

• Intensive Building:
  An extensive building program was initiated at Isin during the Ur III empire in the late 3rd millennium BC.

18th Century BC and Later Periods

• Decline and Relocation:
  With the fall of Ur to the Elamites around 2028–2004 BC, Isin fell to Babylonian rule and was abandoned, with its population being relocated to Sippar.
  

Growth Phase: The city experienced a period of strong growth during this time.
Population Decline:
Despite this development, the region faced population decline between approximately 2100 BC and 1700 BC.
Revival under Amorite Rule:
Following this, an Amorite dynasty took power, establishing the "Dynasty of Isin" around 2017 BC. The city experienced a revival and its population grew significantly during the Isin-Larsa period.
Later Activity:
Activity at the site continued under the Kassites. However, the city's population declined from its peak during the Isin-Larsa period.

 

[JLG]

Isin (3)

• Early Occupation: The site of Isin was occupied as early as the Ubaid period, but significant growth began in the Early Dynastic period in the early to mid-3rd millennium BC.

 

[JLG]

- Chronology of the Sumerian city of Adab: (1)

Adab, located at modern Bismaya in Iraq, was a Sumerian city occupied from at least 3000 BC, reaching prominence around 2350 BC under King Lugal-Anne-Mundu, before being absorbed into larger empires like the Akkadian and Ur III, and eventually declining after 2000 BC. Its history spans the Early Dynastic, Akkadian, Ur III, and Kassite periods, with early evidence of its existence dating to the pre-historic period and later buildings from the Ur-Nammu reign.
Pre-Historic & Early Dynastic Periods (c. 3000 BC – c. 2350 BC)

• c. 3000 BC: Adab was inhabited as early as this period.

Akkadian Empire (c. 2334–2193 BC)

• Adab lost its independent status and became a city within larger empires.

Ur III Empire (c. 2112–2095 BC)

• Buildings from the reign of Ur-Nammu (2112–2095 BC) were found at the site, indicating continued occupation during this period.
• The city was an important center until approximately 2000 BC.

Post-Ur III & Kassite Period (c. 2000 BC – Mid-2nd Millennium BC)

• Adab's importance as a Sumerian center declined after 2000 BC.
  

c. 2350 BC: Adab achieved a period of dominance under the rule of Lugal-Anne-Mundu, who was considered the "King of the four quarters of the world".

Governors, such as Lugal-gis and Ur-tur, ruled Adab during the reigns of Akkadian kings like Shar-kali-sharri.

During the reign of Rimush, Adab experienced destruction, with its walls smashed after a rebellion.

It was occupied into the Kassite period (mid-2nd millennium BC) but did not regain its previous significance.

 

[JLG]

- Evolution of the population of the Sumerian city of Adab: (2)

The Sumerian city of Adab was settled by at least 3000 BCE, with its population growing during the Early Dynastic period (c. 2900-2350 BCE) and later, though a precise population figure for Adab is not available, the city was an important center until approximately 2000 BCE before declining in importance. After the Gutian occupation where it served as their capital, Adab experienced varying lesser degrees of occupation in subsequent periods.
Key Periods of Adab's History

• Early Dynastic Period (c. 2900–2350 BCE): Adab was likely an important city-state, possibly under the control of Ur. The city was eventually conquered by Lugal-Anne-Mundu, who is claimed by the Sumerian King List to have ruled a large, short-lived empire.

Population Context

• A precise population figure for Adab is not available. However, archaeological evidence shows a significant increase in the city's occupied area, peaking in the Ur III and Isin-Larsa periods.
• The overall population trends in Mesopotamia generally showed a rise in population leading up to 2500 BCE, with a significant decline in the second half of the 3rd millennium BCE.

Akkadian Empire (c. 2334–2154 BCE): Adab was reduced to a city within the Akkadian Empire.

Gutian Period (c. 2141–2050 BCE): Adab became the capital of the Gutian dynasty, marking the city's peak of influence during this time.

Ur III Period (c. 2112–2004 BCE): The city was occupied during the reign of Ur-Nammu, but it declined in importance, with the ruins from this period found near the surface.

Isin-Larsa Period (c. 2025–1763 BCE): Adab continued to have some occupation, but its significance had lessened.

 

[JLG]

Adab (3)

Population Context

• A precise population figure for Adab is not available. However, archaeological evidence shows a significant increase in the city's occupied area, peaking in the Ur III and Isin-Larsa periods.
• The overall population trends in Mesopotamia generally showed a rise in population leading up to 2500 BCE, with a significant decline in the second half of the 3rd millennium BCE.