Mesopotamia

“Land between rivers” and one of the greatest cradles of civilization. In this fertile territory, located between the Euphrates and Tigris Rivers, humanity left nomadism and gathering behind to build the first cities: Ur, Lagash or Uruk.

They started agriculturefarming and an outstanding development marked by a series of great milestones in the evolution of humanity: the wheelwritinglawsliterature, science, religion and politics.

From the year 4,500 b. C. the Sumerians, Akkadians and Babylonians laid the base of our current life style.

Urban life

In Mesopotamia humanity abandoned no­madism and built the first cities in history. This helped to the appearance of agriculture, catt­le raising, and social and political organization that was derived from life in the city. Men and women had the opportunity to specialize in specific professions.

Beer

4000 years b. C. in Mesopotamia, was disco­vered the most popular alcoholic drink in the world: beer. There were many kinds of beer and it was drunk from collective vessels sip­ping with a long reed to avoid lumps.

Especially relevant was one of these varieties, which gave rise to a drink known as sikaru and which was used to feed the sick and honor the gods.

mesopotamia-cone

Foundation cone. Terracotta. 2100 b. C.

mesopotamia-whistle

Mesopotamian bird shaped whistle. Terracotta. 1000 b. C.

mesopotamia-maternity

Figure representing a maternity. Terracotta. 1000 b. C.

mesopotamia-neolithic-venus

Neolithic Venus. Terracotta. 6100-5400 b. C.