FROM URUK TO BABYLON: CULTURAL TRANSITION IN THE CITIES OF ANCIENT MESOPOTAMIA

DOI: 10.18173/2354-1067.2024-0039

Abstract

Along with achievements in stateorganization and writing, the birth of urban areas isan important sign marking people's entry into theage of civilization. Throughout history, theseparation of urban areas from rural areas has notonly been economic, but it has also attracted talentand wealth, thus giving cities a distinctlymulticultural character. The southern Mesopotamiaregion was the place that witnessed the emergenceof the earliest cities in human history. Although theregion went through many political upheavalsduring the ancient period, it is surprising that thedifferent people of Mesopotamia preserved, passedon, and created a culture in cities, creating thecharacteristics of Mesopotamian urban culture,both synthetic and unique. This article focuses onexamining cultural transition in the cities of Urukand Babylon in terms of structure, belief,architecture, and law.