Located in the northern part of the Fertile Crescent, Mesopotamia is southwest Asia's historical region within the Euphrates and Tigris river systems. The area, also referred to as "Cradle of Civilization," is located in the region now known as the Middle East. It is very significant in terms of human civilization and inventions that changed the world, as we know it today. Mesopotamia inventions include concepts like writing, maps, sailboat, math, and time. Besides, it is characterized by the shifting succession of ruling bodies from various regions and cities that have taken control over hundreds of years.
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The root words "Meso" meaning "in the middle or between" and "Patmos," meaning "river," forms the name Mesopotamia. Therefore, the title describes the land, which is between rivers. Mesopotamia is home to modern-day Syria, Turkey, Kuwait, and Iraq. Mesopotamian civilization began 14,000 B.C. when the first humans settled there during the Paleolithic era and living in small circular settlements . Five decades later, people who occupied formed a community of farmers. Agriculture development happened to utilize the Fertile Crescent and nearness of Euphrates-Tigris river systems and animal domestication. Agriculture progressed because of Ubaid's dominant culture , which had absorbed the culture of their predecessors Halaf community. In this article, we will look at the top three inventions and discoveries by the Mesopotamians.
The development of agriculture began about ten decades ago during the Holocene Epoch era. In most of history, humans have spent time hunting and gathering for food. The taming of animals and raising crops most likely began in the north of Syria and Iraq. The prehistoric irrigation system remains still exist.
The Sumerians of ancient Mesopotamia did the world first works of engineering by building temples, city walls, and dug canals. Irrigation was essential to ancient Mesopotamians. However, flooding was considerable concern in Mesopotamia; Euphrates and Tigris Rivers carried huge silt volumes, leading to the river changing its course. Flooding led the Mesopotamians to construct levees along the riverbanks to prevent water from overflowing into their fields. Efforts to control flooding were first made successfully in Mesopotamia.
Under the harsh constraints of desert climate, ancient Mesopotamians developed systems and strategies that helped them develop the first known monarchy, empire, and city dominated by institutions led by provincial palaces and other elites. They had focused on the cultivation of cereals, in particular barley, together with grapes, dates, and legumes. Mesopotamia had two ecological domains, which was depended on the cultural distinction of the locals. In the southern part of Mesopotamia, which later becomes Babylon was the land of Akkad Sumer was the driest and received low or no rainfall at all. Therefore, they depended on large-scale irrigation supervised by their elite; however, they produced more than the northern part. The north region, which later became the Assyrians' land, received moderate rainfall to allow natural farming but had minimal produce compared to southern Mesopotamia.
Under the harsh condition of the desert, Mesopotamians had developed a successful system of agriculture. The rivers had little or no relation to the domesticated circle of growth. The climate was dry, with the variation of inter-annual rainfall very brutal and a thin soil that was saline to support crop farming. However, with slit on the flat plains on the south and rivers scales, it was easy to dig irrigation canals and set-up large fields under irrigation. The areas were much more productive but required intensive labor throughout.
Before the invention of the plow, Ancient Mesopotamian farmers used stone hoes to the plow the fields. The rivers Euphrates and Tigris, which gave rise to the name Mesopotamia, made it convenient and easy for irrigation. They had learned to control the floor of water and used it to practice irrigations to prevent flooding. Water was regulated during the high growing seasons whereby each farmer was allowed some certain amount diverted into the irrigation channels. Irrigation development in Mesopotamia was essential for the settlers. It provided a constant food supply.
Writing is a communication system that involves a representation by graphic marks in a specific language to mean a particular thing or message. The oldest form of writing, known as the Cuneiform Script, was created in Mesopotamia about 3200BC. The name came from the Latin word "cuneus," meaning wedge-shaped. The writing of wedge-like impression was written on wet clay to form word sign. Representation of word concept was done later in what was called Phonograms. The system was used to cover mundane issues such as tabulating farm products and other produce. All civilizations in ancient Mesopotamia used a cuneiform writing system until the alphabetical system was introduced in about 100 BC replaced it.
Ancient Mesopotamians used clay tablets, which were immune to the ravaging impacts of time. Modern scholars have dedicated their time to master the language. However, it has proven that the language is by no means easy to decode it. Somewhat it has been discovered about half-a-million cuneiform artifacts from Mesopotamia, but just a fraction of them has been translated so far. The odds are there will be many more surprises.
The pro-cuneiform is the oldest cuneiform tablet ever discovered. It was in the form of a pictogram, and it addressed the subject of flood, battle, and king. The subjects became complicated, as it switched toward the quest for immortality and gods' will. The stylus stroke was a more simplified representation by 3000 BC, which were further simplified Rebus by eliminating the value of phonetic and expressed the relationship in syntax and grammar.
In addition, Mesopotamians developed mathematics. The beginning of civilization led to the growth of trade. Therefore, there was a need for a system to count units of commerce, leading to the concept of counting. The counting method was based on the base of 60 and is referred to as the Sexagesimal system. The system was very significant in the development 60 minutes in an hour and 60 seconds in a minute. Additionally, it was used in concepts like a 12-month year and 360-degree circle.
The number system, which is still in use but modified, was passed down to the Babylonians. With the number 60, it was possible to break down it more specific factors 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 10, 12, 15, 20, 30, 60. Necessity led to the development of mathematics to cater to the needs of trade, taxation, and record keeping. Additionally, the assignment of symbols to large numbers was essential to track time and prepare for the lunar calendar. To denote number 1, they used a small clay cone. To represent number 10, they use a ball, and a colossal clay cone was used to describe the number 60. The Sumerians invented an elemental abacus between 2700 and 2300 BC.
The oldest map surviving discovered was made around 2300 BC in Babylon. The maps were simple sketches made on clay tablets. It shows a simple illustration of the Akkadian's region in Mesopotamia. The ancient cartography covered a small area used for hunting, military camping, and trading. An example of a simple map was a clay tablets of around 18 x 21 cm which was used by Sumerians to identify features on their locality. Nuzi's ancient city map was produced between 2360 and 2180 BC, and it is likely the earliest road map. It illustrates the progressive expertise of the ancient Mesopotamian cartographers in topography and survey.
Although the first map was developed in Mesopotamia, the Romans and Greek cartography was more advanced and brought the spherical earth concept. The philosophers in Greek developed the idea of spherical earth around 350 BC that further led to the development of the world map.
Humans have made more remarkable strides when it comes to astrology. The first step toward the realization of this happened in ancient Mesopotamia. The Sumerians had documented the movement of planetary objects, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn. They had formulated a way to foretell about future battles and fortunes using astrology. Ancient astrologist observed planet locations and advised people on political or social positions according to the positions. Astonishingly, it has been recently discovered that the Sumerians had precisely forecast the planets' movement. That is about 2000 years before any other civilization could do so. The Greeks absorbed astronomical concepts of patterns like Sagittarius, Leo, and Capricorn from the Sumerians and Babylonians, which are still used to date.
Concepts of constellations were used on daily activates in ancient Mesopotamia, for instance, to mark time for sowing and harvesting crops. In addition, they mapped movements in the sky, the moon, the stars, and the Sun, which they used to foretell Steller events like an eclipse.
Mesopotamia people gave us the concept of Astrology and Astronomy. Those people were very creative and used to think about every field of life in depth. Most of the people were used to go to mountains and the highest reachable points to figure out what was happening in the sky and how the sun and stars were working.
They worked on astrology and astronomy very deeply and invented several ways to get information about these things. There were also aware of the connection between stars and fate. They used to believe that each bad and pleasant day was affiliated with a star. They believed that any happening with a person was due to stars movements. Their information about astrology and astronomy was so reliable that today we use some of their provided methods and formulas to figure out different things and happenings outside of this Rarth.
The chariot was another great invention by the people of Mesopotamia. It was originally based on two wheels which were attached with an animal like a horse. The two-wheeled system was attached to the animal using wood and ropes. This was considered the best way of travelling that time because no other travelling source was available except animals. After the initial design, the Chariot was upgraded to four and six wheels which had more capacity for passengers. It was faster due to its many wheel system. Different civilizations and nations used Chariot in its basic and advanced forms. Even the kings and most influential persons in some regions used Chariots in their times. Today you can also see chariots in some regions around the world.
A map is the most common way to find a place anywhere around the world. Whether you are new to a specific region or you are just looking for any new place around you, maps become very handy in such situations. Mesopotamia people invented the maps.
Scientists have found the oldest map in the history which is around 2300 BC old. A research team discovered this map in the northern Iraq region which was originally Mesopotamia. They found a map on clay tabs which was created by pointing the main regions, places, and noticeable areas. For example, the grounds, forest, and the living site were included in that map. It tells us that Mesopotamia people invented maps which are still in use. They designed a simple diagram which was created on clay. Now, we have the advanced forms of the map like in our mobiles and computer systems.
Metal fabrication was started by the Mesopotamia and the people around its region. Mesopotamia people were so advanced in every field that they invented and discovered a lot of metallic things which are still in use. They were advanced and had great knowledge about metals like copper, gold and iron.
They not only had knowledge about metals, but they also invented metal fabrication and made a lot of pots, weapons and food holders. First metal to be fabricated was copper which was fabricated several thousand years ago. People of Mesopotamia casted it in the mold to make some useful things. Initially, they only made some simple plates and weapons. Later on, they started making vessels, jugs, and jars which were a bit more complicated.
The people of Mesopotamia invented the concept of urbanization for the first time in history. They proposed the concept of living in a specific part or place of land. This was only possible while using agriculture which was also invented by the people of Mesopotamia. If there was not enough food, they have to move to another place to feed animals and humans. So, they started a small urban area in which a specific amount of people used to live.
They had their own way of the living, transport system and even a complete tax system. Small bricks were used to make the urban areas in which small houses and fields were included. Later on, this urbanization concept became very popular all around the world and almost every civilization adopted this concept. So, it was a fantastic concept given by the Mesopotamia region.
The Mesopotamia civilization invented the concept of time. They gave the idea of time at first. Studies show that the people of Mesopotamia region originally invented the time format which we are using today. It is also a fact that some previous civilizations and nations also gave the concept of time. However, the most applied and understandable concept was based on 60 system which is still in use.
Not just the concept of time, they also invented the thought of past, present, and future. The purpose behind this was to figure out the circumstances. The Mesopotamia people carefully noticed the time for several months and years. They figured out that there are some regular intervals between days and nights which change with different weather. Firstly, they invented a simple system which was only consisted of time divisions. Later on, they developed an advanced time system which included seconds, minutes and hours. Each of these units was well defined. At present, we are currently using the same time concept which was first known as base-60 time method as it consisted 60 seconds and 60 minutes in it.
The people of Mesopotamia participated in entertainment events and games. They used to play a different type of board games at their time. The oldest board game was found by a team which is said to be more than 4000 years old. It consisted of small painted stones which had different patterns on it.
Some dice are found with different numbering and painting which were used with the stone board. The first board game was originated from the Mesopotamia region. Just after its invention, people started making and playing such board games in different cultures and civilizations. It was the only entertainment at that time as no internet, or other facilities were available.
The credit of soap invention also goes to the Mesopotamia people. The oldest soap evidence was found and believed to exists back to 2800 BC. Several thousand years ago, when different civilizations and cultures made some of the modern inventions, the Mesopotamia region invented a cleaning material which is now called soap. They made it by mixing the animal fats with wood ash in a particular amount along with water added to it.
They used soap to clean clothes or other stuff which they considered as dirty and unclean. Different types of solvents were created with different formulas and different cleaning capabilities. However, all of those were useful and adopted by people. Their soap compositions traveled all around the world and helped different nations of the world.
Another great invention of Mesopotamia people was a law system. When there was enough advancement in almost every field of life, crimes and misunderstandings began to happen. People who used to live in urban areas and other places had a different mindset. That's why conflict started.
Crimes began due to the uncommon resource distribution among the people. To handle this situation, Mesopotamia people invented a system which they named as law system. This was the complete method of handling crimes and misunderstanding. They designed a proper code of conduct which was consisted of different terms related to each field of life. Those terms were then distributed and taught to everyone to bring peace in their culture and society.
Mesopotamian inventions made the first strides toward the elementary things that humans needed to settle down, such as agriculture writing and the concept of Cartography and astrology. The above listed inventions and discoveries are just the tip of an iceberg; many more inventions were made in ancient Mesopotamia, including urbanization, chariot, time calculation, etc. Mesopotamian science and technology influenced subsequent disciplines of other cultures that have further advanced them. These developments in history, science, and technology still impact the world today.
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