Cities and villages
-
Mario Liverani
Abstract
Ever since the rediscovery of Mesopotamian cities in the nineteenth century, modern scholars have generated a wealth of theories to understand urbanization processes and urban organization - not to mention debates about how ancient cities “evolved.” The chapter surveys theories on the complex phenomenon of cities, leading into a discussion of how the development of cities and villages corresponded to economic, social, and political inequalities and hierarchies. Three types of sources illuminate cities and villages: texts, digs, and surveys. Using these in combination, we can grasp at the ideas and ideologies that shaped how these settlements looked and how their inhabitants used them. Moreover, we can compare urban characteristics and explore what’s unique about Mesopotamian cities compared to settlements of later periods - in a way that avoids the pitfalls of colonialist and Eurocentric assumptions.
Abstract
Ever since the rediscovery of Mesopotamian cities in the nineteenth century, modern scholars have generated a wealth of theories to understand urbanization processes and urban organization - not to mention debates about how ancient cities “evolved.” The chapter surveys theories on the complex phenomenon of cities, leading into a discussion of how the development of cities and villages corresponded to economic, social, and political inequalities and hierarchies. Three types of sources illuminate cities and villages: texts, digs, and surveys. Using these in combination, we can grasp at the ideas and ideologies that shaped how these settlements looked and how their inhabitants used them. Moreover, we can compare urban characteristics and explore what’s unique about Mesopotamian cities compared to settlements of later periods - in a way that avoids the pitfalls of colonialist and Eurocentric assumptions.
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter I
- Contents V
- List of contributors VII
- Introduction IX
-
Part I: The fabric of daily life: Individuals and institutions
- Cities and villages 3
- Pastoralism and nomadism 37
- Agriculture 61
- Animal husbandry 147
- Calendars 179
-
Part II: Society and the margins of silence
- Women 211
- Slaves, serfs, and foreigners 241
- Children and the elderly 269
- Index 293
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter I
- Contents V
- List of contributors VII
- Introduction IX
-
Part I: The fabric of daily life: Individuals and institutions
- Cities and villages 3
- Pastoralism and nomadism 37
- Agriculture 61
- Animal husbandry 147
- Calendars 179
-
Part II: Society and the margins of silence
- Women 211
- Slaves, serfs, and foreigners 241
- Children and the elderly 269
- Index 293
