Скачать или смотреть The First Metropolis: The Rise of Sumerian City States

In the sun-baked plains of southern Mesopotamia, the ancient city of Uruk (modern-day Warka, Iraq) ignited a revolution that shaped human history. Founded as early as 4000 BCE, Uruk became the world's first true metropolis—a sprawling urban center of temples, trade, and kingship—laying the foundation for civilization itself.

From its legendary ruler Gilgamesh, immortalized in the Epic of Gilgamesh (2100 BCE), to its towering city walls and proto-cuneiform writing, Uruk pioneered innovations that defined Sumer:

The Birth of Cities: By 3200 BCE, Uruk's urban explosion—the "Uruk Phenomenon"—spread its culture across Mesopotamia.

Gods and Power: The Eanna District's monumental temples marked a shift toward centralized religion, while rival city-states clashed over land and water.

Clay, War, and Empire: From plano-convex bricks to history's first recorded wars (like Lagash vs. Umma), Uruk's legacy fueled the rise of Akkad and Babylon.

Yet Uruk's dominance faded as droughts, rival cities, and nomadic migrations reshaped Mesopotamia. By 2600 BCE, its epic saga was etched in clay—a blueprint for every empire that followed.

Why Uruk Matters:

Namesake of Iraq (via "Uruk" → "Erech" → "Iraq")

Origin of writing, mass production, and large-scale governance

The epic battleground of gods, kings, and immortality

This is where cities began—and where our world took shape.