Foreword:
This article mainly describes the four major cultural periods experienced in the origin and development. Babylonian civilization (Mesopotamian civilization), including primitive culture, Sumerian-Akkadian culture, Babylonian culture, Assyria and Chaldea culture. Babylonians established the kingdom of Babylon in the Mesopotamia region (that is, the Mesopotamia region). This article describes the geographical advantages of Mesopotamia and the cultural development in this region.
Like Egypt, Babylon is one of the countries with the earliest origin of civilization in the world. Babylon is located between the Tigris River and the Euphrates River in West Asia. Babylonian said that it is the “two river basins”. The ancient Greeks recorded in Babylonian mythology that the two river was Mesopotamia. Later, they said that the Babylonian civilization that is Mesopotamia civilization.
Mesopotamian civilization (Babylonian civilization) ended, and established the new Babylonian kingdom
The countries with early civilizations in the world are all located near major rivers. Where the water source is abundant, and the soil is fertile, which is convenient for farming and living. Humans chose such areas to settle.
The characteristics of Mesopotamia
Mesopotamia was in such a zone. But unlike Egypt, there are many ethnic groups here who invade each other. And it is the territory where the Central Asian ethnic groups compete with each other. Therefore, ethnic groups often live together here, and the various ethnic groups communicate with each other and influence each other. In particular, the four major ethnic cultures of Sumerians, Semites, Indo-Europeans (Hittites), and Huli. Once, they successively established their own civilizations here. This area not only shows a prosperous city and perfect political system, but also shows the characteristics of multi-ethnic culture.
Foreign invasion caused the Kingdom of Babylon gradually declined
Around 4000 BC, the Sumerians who migrated from the east became the main residents here. By about 3000 BC, they not only settled here, but also created hieroglyphics, built large cities, and invented irrigation technology. However, the Sumerians did not establish a long-term unified country, and experienced two foreign invasions during their residence. The Akkadians established the Kingdom of Akkadian. And the Amorites of the Semites established the Kingdom of Babylon. They are said that Babylon is the First Dynasty. They took the city of Babylon in the south as their capital. When the sixth king Hammurabi ruled (1792-1750 BC), he unified the north and south of the Mesopotamia. And established a powerful centralized state. This made the Kingdom of Babylon a famous kingdom with prosperous politics, developed economy and prosperous culture. And the city of Babylon also became the center of world commercial culture. Later, due to foreign invasion, the Kingdom of Babylon gradually declined.
Established the New Babylonian Kingdom
In the tenth century BC, another branch of the Semites, the Assyrians, rose up and established the Assyrian Empire. They continued to expand and finally conquered Babylon and other countries. In the seventh century BC, the Semitic Chaldeans captured the important city of Nineveh and established the New Babylonian Kingdom. In 538 BC, the Persian king Cyrus conquered the Chaldeans. And the Babylonian kingdom finally collapsed. And the Mesopotamian civilization came to an end.
Mesopotamia (Neo-Babylonian Civilization) experienced four periods of culture
In Mesopotamia, due to political instability and mixed ethnic groups, various ethnic groups occupied this territory one after another. As a result, the cultures in this region also present a form of both distinctiveness and mutual integration. It basically experienced four periods: primitive culture, Sumerian-Akkadian culture, Babylonian culture, Assyrian and Chaldean culture.
The first and second cultural periods: primitive culture and Sumerian-Akkadian culture
The original culture originated in the north. But the Sumerian culture in the south developed rapidly. And soon surpassed the north. The Sumerians invented writing, built cities, and built water conservancy, becoming the pioneers of the civilization in the Mesopotamia. Foreigners continuously invaded the Mesopotamia, but Sumerians have never interrupted the Sumerian cultural tradition. Sumerian-Akkadian culture is the foundation of Mesopotamian culture. During this period, there was not only a unified kingdom, but also Sumerians, established the earliest slavery country.
Culturally, the Sumerian-Akkadians created cuneiform based on pictographs. At that time, they used reed tubes and small wooden sticks to carve some symbols on self-made clay tablets. And to express semantic meaning. The carved symbols were like some wedges, so they said that the carved symbols were cuneiform characters. Which were the earliest linear characters. The Sumerians also founded schools, compiled dictionaries and pharmacopoeias. And formulated legal codes, which indicated that the civilization of the Mesopotamia had made new progress. And it laid a solid foundation for the later prosperity of Babylonian culture.
The third cultural period: Babylonian culture
Babylonian culture is the golden age of Mesopotamian civilization. It basically inherited the Sumerian-Akkadian culture and created more splendid culture and art at the same time. During the reign of Hammurabi, the country not only prospered politically. But also reached the peak of development. And the famous Code of Hammurabi appeared. Moreover, the culture is rich and colorful, and literature, religion, science, etc. are very prosperous. The Babylonian culture is the representative of the Mesopotamian culture.
The fourth cultural period: Assyrian and Chaldean culture
Assyrian culture mostly inherited Babylonian culture. Their greatest achievement is the preservation of many important cultural relics and historical materials in the Mesopotamia. They are also the messengers of the West Asian civilization. We now know that the myths and legends of the Mesopotamia are all transmitted and preserved by the Assyrians.
Chaldean culture is a collective culture, which combines the cultural elements of Sumer, Assyria and Babylon. And creates newer artistic achievements. During this period, New Babylon built magnificent temples. Built one of the famous seven wonders, the “Sky Garden” and the outstanding “Sky Tower”.
Comments on the culture of the four periods
The people of West Asia described the cultures of the above-mentioned four periods. They as brilliant and eye-catching in ancient times, each leading the way. It is not only the pride of the people of West Asia. But also left precious cultural wealth for the people of the world.
Because the center of the Mesopotamia basically surrounds the city of Babylon, the capital of the Kingdom of Babylon. The Kingdom of Babylon was the most prosperous period of Mesopotamia civilization. Therefore, when people introducing the civilization or culture of this region. People said that Babylonian civilization or culture is a general term.
Therefore, when talking about the myths and legends of the Mesopotamia. We also use the myths and legends of Babylon as a summary. According to the above-mentioned different cultures. Sumer, Babylon and Assyria are the main periods of the myths and legends. They’re reflecting the myth system of the Sumerians and Semites.
