Ancient Mesopotamia: Life in the Cradle of Civilization

Episode 1: Uncovering Near Eastern Civilization

Ancient Mesopotamia: Life in the Cradle of Civilization

Dr Amanda H Podany

Film Review

With its amazing longevity of 3,000 years, Mesopotamia accounts accounts for two-thirds of the total history of human civilization. Western concepts of writing, criminal and contract law and diplomatic relations can all be traced back to Mesopotamia.

According to Podany, Mesopotamian civilization is much less studied than Roman, Greek or Egyptian civilization, largely because its written language, Akkadian,* was only deciphered 170 years ago. The deciphering of Akkadian hieroglyphics led to a burst of archeological investigation of ancient Mesopotamian sites (most in modern day Iraq). At present, 250,000 separate Akkadian tablets have been discovered, some of which have yet to be read.

Most of these tablets relate to everyday activities: court documents, business letters, rations, lists of animals and multiplication tables.

*Written Akkadian originated in the Kingdom of Sumer (4500 – 1900 BC) in southern Mesopotamia.

Film can be viewed free with a library card on Kanopy.

https://pukeariki.kanopy.com/video/uncovering-near-eastern-civilization