Cradles Of Civ 1.6: Ziggurat ✓ Solved

Cradles of Civ 1.6: Ziggurat

Dr. David Neiman: The Sumerians and the Egyptians were in contact with each other, showing interesting similarities in their writings, including recipes for making beer. Both civilizations shared these recipes, highlighting a common cultural aspect.

In Sumerian civilization, a constant feature was the construction of temple towers known as Ziggurats. The Sumerians inhabited the flat valley of the Tigris-Euphrates, where they could not find natural mountains to elevate their temples. To address this, they built artificial mountains in the form of Ziggurats, essentially step pyramids. These structures consisted of a foundation made of soil, surrounded by bricks, and multiple levels, with ramps leading to the top, where a significant building, the E-Gal (Great Building), served various community purposes.

The word for 'land' in Sumerian writing resembles mountains, indicating their desire to recreate the heights of their origins in Karakoram and Mongolia. Every Sumerian and Babylonian city featured a Ziggurat; Babylon had two significant ones that symbolized their religion and cultural identity. The Ziggurat was closely associated with the myth of the Tower of Babel, commonly referenced in biblical texts.

The earliest pyramid in Egypt, the Pyramid of Saqqara, was constructed for Pharaoh Djoser and mimics the structure of Sumerian Ziggurats. Interestingly, despite Egypt's abundance of stone, the Pyramid of Saqqara was made of stone blocks cut to resemble bricks rather than utilizing large stones directly, demonstrating a certain influence from Sumerian architectural styles.

During this period, around 3000 BC, Egyptian writing began to evolve. The Egyptians adopted a system of hieroglyphics, utilizing real objects signified by pictures and phonetic elements, representing a complex development of writing.

Furthermore, Dr. Neiman draws an intriguing parallel with the 19th-century story of Sequoyah, a Cherokee who invented a writing system for the Cherokee language after observing English writing. His approach differed as he treated symbols as syllables rather than letters, creatively expanding the English alphabet to meet the phonetic needs of his language.

This transition highlights the influence of the Sumerian writing system: those who imitated it utilized similar structures, while others understood the concept and created unique systems altogether.

Paper For Above Instructions

The interplay between the Sumerian and Egyptian civilizations is a fascinating subject, especially in terms of their architectural achievements and writing systems. Each civilization contributed uniquely to human history, and their cultural exchanges shaped the development of subsequent societies.

The Ziggurats of Sumer were architectural responses to geographical limitations and spiritual aspirations. Built as multi-tiered structures, they symbolized humanity's attempts to reach the divine. The Ziggurats, constructed in each Sumerian city, served not only as religious temples but also as community centers, demonstrating the integral role of religion in daily life.

In contrast, the Egyptian pyramids, particularly the Pyramid of Saqqara, reveal a different approach to monumental architecture. While Sumerians created step pyramids due to a lack of natural elevation, the Egyptians utilized their vast resources of stone to craft more monumental structures. The choice to initially mimic Sumerian designs before evolving them showcases a blend of inspiration and innovation that characterized ancient civilizations.

Both cultures also developed sophisticated writing systems that reflected their social structures and philosophies. The Sumerians utilized cuneiform, one of the earliest forms of writing, to document everything from trade transactions to monumental literature. This writing system's complexity laid the groundwork for others, influencing cultures that followed.

On the other hand, Egyptian hieroglyphics offered a more pictorial representation of language, serving both practical and ceremonial purposes. The use of symbols in hieroglyphics allowed for the expression of ideas and narratives, revealing insights into Egyptian society, religion, and governance.

The story of Sequoyah further illustrates the impact of writing as a means of cultural expression and preservation. His invention of a syllabary for the Cherokee language demonstrates how exposure to different writing systems can inspire novel forms of communication. The creativity involved in adapting existing scripts to fit unique languages highlights the dynamic nature of writing as a cultural tool.

In conclusion, the architectural advancements and writing systems of the Sumerians and Egyptians were deeply intertwined with their identities. The Ziggurats and pyramids reflected their respective worldviews, while their writing systems served to document and express their cultures. The influence they exerted on one another illustrates the interconnectedness of early civilizations, forming the cradles of human civilization and laying the foundation for future advancements in society.

References

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