Rise of City States

City-states

• A city-state is an independent city — and sometimes its surrounding land — which has its own government, separate from nearby countries.

Mesopotamia was located in the Middle East.

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Geography

• Northern Mesopotamia: Hilly, with sufficient rainfall; suitable for early Neolithic farming.
• Southern Mesopotamia: Flat, dry plains between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. Extreme heat, with little rain but seasonal flooding.
• Significance: The geography forced Mesopotamians to innovate in farming and water management, paving the way for the development of cities.

Challenges in Southern Mesopotamia

• Climate was hot and dry, with little rainfall throughout most of the year.
• The Tigris and Euphrates rivers flooded unpredictably
• The region lacked basic materials like wood and stone for construction
• Vulnerability to attacks due to lack of natural defenses like mountains or forests.
• Water Dependency: They developed an irrigation systems to cope with inconsistent water supplies.

Migration

• The Zagros Mountains in northern Mesopotamia had fertile soil, mild weather, and plentiful rainfall, making it ideal farming.
• Farming allowed the population to grow, leading to the development of early villages in the Zagros
• Overpopulation - Eventually food supply could not keep up with the growing population
• People began migrating from the overcrowded hills to the open plains between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers

Uncontrolled Water Supply

• Problem: Seasonal flooding of the Tigris and Euphrates was unpredictable. It could destroy crops with sudden floods or leave land parched in dry seasons.
• Impact: Sumerian farmers needed to manage the water supply to avoid famine.
• Solution: The Sumerians built levees, canals, and dams to control water flow and ensure year-round agriculture.

Controlling the Water

• Levees: Earth walls along riverbanks to prevent floods.
• Canals: Dug to divert water from rivers to fields.
• Dams and Reservoirs: Used to store water for later use during dry periods.

Rise of City States

• Villages had to collaborate to maintain complex irrigation systems, leading to closer ties and a more organized society.
• By 3500-3000 BCE, many villages expanded into towns, and some grew large enough to become cities.
• These larger communities needed governance and protection, leading to the rise of independent city-states in Sumer.

Attacks from Neighboring Communities

• As Sumerian cities grew, disputes over water access became common.
• Some went to war; others made it difficult to live downriver.
• Cities located upriver could cut off water supplies to those downstream.
• Defensive Measures: In response, Sumerians built walls around their cities using sun-dried mud bricks and dug moats to protect against attacks.

Walled Cities

• Sumerian cities were densely packed, with homes, temples, and administrative buildings located inside protective walls.