Early Civilizations: Mesopotamia and Africa

Early Civilizations

The dawn of civilization is marked by significant milestones in human history where societies began to form complex structures with their own unique cultures. Two early civilizations—Mesopotamians and Africans—stand out as examples of how different environments can shape cultural development.

Mesopotamia: Located between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, this ancient region was known as Sumerians due to its first inhabitants. Agriculture flourished here because of the fertile land created by the rivers' alluvial soil deposits.

Agricultural surplus allowed these communities to develop, leading to the establishment of cities such as Ur and Babylon. These settlements gave rise to trade routes connecting them to other cities like Nineveh. This economic growth eventually led to the invention of money using shells, clay tokens, and later metal coins.

To manage their growing populations, the people had to organize themselves politically. They elected kings who were often considered divine rulers. One such king was Hammurabi, whose Code laid down principles of justice that influenced many subsequent laws around the world.

Despite facing challenges from neighboring empires like Assyrians and Persians, Mesopotamians left behind an impressive legacy. Their advancements included writing systems based on cuneiform script carved into clay tablets, which helped preserve their heritage through centuries.

Africa: Evidence suggests humans have lived in Africa since more than two million years ago. While much less is written about African prehistory compared to European counterparts, there are several significant sites worth mentioning.

In East Africa, archaeologists discovered artifacts near Lake Turkana dating back over three million years. Stone tools found here indicate early humans used advanced techniques even before they migrated elsewhere.

South Africa also has important historical artifacts associated with Khoisan peoples. This area represents one of humanity’s oldest continuous single-lineage ancestries.

Egypt, though geographically part of North Africa, deserves special consideration among African civilizations. Its civilization emerged along the Nile River valley around 3200 BC. By 2900 BC, Egypt formed city-states ruled by Pharaohs; these monarchs oversaw major public works projects including pyramids and temples. Libraries filled with papyrus scrolls containing religious texts, mythology, poetry, and legal codes further attested to Egyptian culture's complexity.

Civilization in Africa developed differently depending upon local resources available in specific regions within the continent. However, some commonalities exist across regions for instance, economic activity centered around agriculture and animal husbandry.

These two early civilizations - Mesopotamians and Africans - demonstrate how environmental factors could significantly influence societal developments. From agricultural surpluses enabling urban life in Mesopotamia to resource exploration shaping communities in Africa, understanding these early stages of human evolution helps us appreciate our current place in society today.