FIRST CITIES: HOW THEY AROSE, WHERE AND WHICH WERE - HISTORY - 2025

The first cities arose around 7,500 years ago in Mesopotamia, when the human being had stopped being a gatherer and nomad and had definitely become a gatherer and sedentary.

A city would imply, not only the settlement of residents, but at least a certain density of buildings and inhabitants, the existence of walls or defenses, an administrative system, and a defined geographical area (Mark, 2014).

Historians have a consensus that the first cities arose in Mesopotamia

As agriculture developed in the Neolithic period, nomadic and gatherer human beings had the need to establish themselves by forming villages. Although the inhabitants are few, historians call them Neolithic cities or agricultural villages.

Some 7500 years before Christ (BC), men organized themselves into small groups or tribes that tended to congregate more and more people.

Settlements were formed that, by joining with other tribes, began a process that would bring as a consequence a great change in the economic and social life of humanity, since the first cities would emerge.

How did the first cities arise?

The emergence of the first cities occurs when men decide to leave traveling living to stay in a fixed place. These changes that transformed his life occurred from the Neolithic period (Claudio, 2013).

In this period agriculture was discovered and as a consequence man became a producer. In order to be able to satisfy their needs efficiently, man also domesticated some animals. They went from having resources thanks to predation, to an economy of production.

This is how the Paleolithic hunters went to the Neolithic cattlemen, who dedicated themselves to sowing. They had to stop being nomadic because agriculture and livestock needed care and vigilance in the countryside.

The men who lived on the land met in groups, the first settlements emerging near rivers that allowed them to source water and irrigate crops.

Economic development caused changes, the population increased, and small settlements grew into large cities.

Where did the first cities arise?

The first cities were born in the valleys watered by the great rivers: the Tigris and the Euphrates in Mesopotamia, the Indus in India, the Nile in Egypt and the Yellow in China.

The Neolithic revolution and its changes in the way of life of mankind, is seen for the first time in northern Mesopotamia giving rise to several settlements.

In southern Mesopotamia, the plain between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, was suitable for large human settlements.

Mesopotamia is a word of Greek origin that means "region between rivers"; at present these territories are occupied by the states of Syria, Iran and mainly Iraq.

The Tigris and Euphrates rivers had an irregular flow. The flow of this pair of rivers was variable and unpredictable, there were droughts one year and destructive floods the next.

To have any control, canals, dikes and a more complex structure were required. Facing these challenges evolved the most important achievements of the early civilization.

What were the first cities?

Catal Huyuk

There is a city that was created in what is now Turkey and is believed to have been established in 7500 BC. It is the city of Catal Huyuk.

Found in the late 1950s and restored in the 1960s, it has an amazing state of preservation. Their houses had roof access and used stairs that went from one level to another.

Archaeologists have discovered that up to twelve products were grown at Catal Huyuk, including three varieties of wheat, fruits, and nuts. People grew their own food and stored it in their homes.

In Mesopotamia the Sumerian civilization was established, being the oldest in the world. Archeology has made it possible to discover what many of the Mesopotamian nuclei such as Uruk, Ur, Lagash, Babylon or Eridu were like.

These cities were surrounded by walls, they were built around the temple and had neighborhoods of artisans, since they based their economy on crafts, agriculture and trade.

Uruk

It was located next to the Euphrates. It is known of its existence since 5000 BC but its best stage occurred between 4000 to 3200 BC where it reached a population of 65,000 inhabitants located in an area of ​​more than 600 hectares.

Its influence was so important that it gave its name to the so-called Uruk Period, because it is there that the most representative archaeological remains of this culture have been found.

Ur

It is one of the most important and ancient cities in Mesopotamia, founded in 3800 BC. C., located near the mouth of the Euphrates River. In its heyday, the city possibly had more than 200,000 inhabitants.

In relation to architecture, the Ziggurat of Ur stands out, the city's most distinctive construction. At present, its ruins are 24 km southwest of Nasiriya, present-day Iraq.

Babylon

It is perhaps the most famous city in Mesopotamia. Founded in 2300 BC, it achieved its independence after the Sumerian Renaissance period.

It became the capital of a great empire. Under the rule of Nebuchadnezzar II the city was magnificently beautified, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon are an example and contributed to make the city famous (National Geographic, 2012).

In addition to the emergence of cities in Mesopotamia, there are also those that emerged in Ancient Egypt and the Indus Valley.

The so-called Indus Valley Civilization, existed from 3300 BC from what is now northeast Afghanistan, towards Pakistan and northwest India (Lumen, 2017). Harappa and Mohenjo-daro were the most important cities of this civilization.

Mohenjo daro

It is believed to have been built around 2600 BC and became not only the largest city in the Indus Valley civilization, but one of the oldest urban centers in the world.

Located west of the Indus River, Mohenjo-daro was one of the most refined cities of the time, with excellent engineering and urban planning. Its ruins are in the territory of present-day Pakistan.

References

1. (March 13, 2013). ANCIENT CIVILIZATIONS OF THE WORLD FIRST CITIES OF MESOPOTOMIA. Obtained from History and Biographies: historiaybiografias.com
2. Lumen. (2017). Retrieved from The Indus River Valley Civilizations: courses.lumenlearning.com
3. info. (August 03, 2016). Obtained from Main cities of Ancient Mesopotamia: en.marenostrum.info
4. Mark, and. J. (April 05, 2014). Ancient History. Obtained from The Ancient City: ancient.eu
5. National Geographic. (September 1, 2012). Obtained from The first cities, the urban revolution in Mesopotamia: nationalgeographic.com.es