Difference between revisions of "4. The Sumerians were particularly vulnerable to outside attack. Explain why."
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[[History 8 Mesopotamia Manual Concepts]] | [[History 8 Mesopotamia Manual Concepts]] | ||
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| − | Why did the Sumerians, one of the most amazing Civilizations of the ancient world, decline is a mystery. "It is said that the Sumerians ceased to exist as a civilization by 2000 B.C." Some people say that there was overpopulation in a small area which led to pollution plus other reasons like war and changes in the natural environment. The Mesopotamian cities had large population problems. there was a lack of indoor toilets and ineffective garbage collection led to contaminated water and diseases spread, one of which was typhus. A view is that irrigation techniques are also one of the chief reasons for the decline of the Mesopotamian. When the water evaporated, it would leave behind salt residue, this resulted in salty fields, making it near to impossible to grow crops. In addition to that, when water would evaporate, it would draw sodium from below the soil. by 2300 B.C., the agricultural aspect of the Sumerians began to shatter. But if the irrigation was drained, than erosion would occur, so they were in a tough situation. All of these reasons caused the Mesopotamian culture in Sumer to start to weaken, making the Sumerian empire weak and not easily defended. So, with all of these vulnerabilities, when the Hittites invaded, the Sumerians and their culture was as good as gone. | + | Why did the Sumerians, one of the most amazing Civilizations of the ancient world, decline is a mystery. "It is said that the Sumerians ceased to exist as a civilization by 2000 B.C." Some people say that there was overpopulation in a small area which led to pollution plus other reasons like war and changes in the natural environment. The Mesopotamian cities had large population problems. there was a lack of indoor toilets and ineffective garbage collection led to contaminated water and diseases spread, one of which was typhus. A view is that irrigation techniques are also one of the chief reasons for the decline of the Mesopotamian. When the water evaporated, it would leave behind salt residue, this resulted in salty fields, making it near to impossible to grow crops. In addition to that, when water would evaporate, it would draw sodium from below the soil. by 2300 B.C., the agricultural aspect of the Sumerians began to shatter. But if the irrigation was drained, than erosion would occur, so they were in a tough situation. All of these reasons caused the Mesopotamian culture in Sumer to start to weaken, making the Sumerian empire weak and not easily defended. So, with all of these vulnerabilities, when the Hittites invaded, the Sumerians and their culture was as good as gone. The great Sumerian kingdom was most certainly a good thing for the societies of this Earth, with their innovations and ideas, but as Geoffrey Chaucer said in the year 1374, "All good things must come to an end.", and as all other good things, the Sumerians came to an end. |
http://www.mrdowling.com/images/603sumerians.gif | http://www.mrdowling.com/images/603sumerians.gif | ||
Revision as of 10:29, 12 November 2013
History 8 Mesopotamia Manual Concepts OPEN FOR CORRECTION RB Why did the Sumerians, one of the most amazing Civilizations of the ancient world, decline is a mystery. "It is said that the Sumerians ceased to exist as a civilization by 2000 B.C." Some people say that there was overpopulation in a small area which led to pollution plus other reasons like war and changes in the natural environment. The Mesopotamian cities had large population problems. there was a lack of indoor toilets and ineffective garbage collection led to contaminated water and diseases spread, one of which was typhus. A view is that irrigation techniques are also one of the chief reasons for the decline of the Mesopotamian. When the water evaporated, it would leave behind salt residue, this resulted in salty fields, making it near to impossible to grow crops. In addition to that, when water would evaporate, it would draw sodium from below the soil. by 2300 B.C., the agricultural aspect of the Sumerians began to shatter. But if the irrigation was drained, than erosion would occur, so they were in a tough situation. All of these reasons caused the Mesopotamian culture in Sumer to start to weaken, making the Sumerian empire weak and not easily defended. So, with all of these vulnerabilities, when the Hittites invaded, the Sumerians and their culture was as good as gone. The great Sumerian kingdom was most certainly a good thing for the societies of this Earth, with their innovations and ideas, but as Geoffrey Chaucer said in the year 1374, "All good things must come to an end.", and as all other good things, the Sumerians came to an end.
sources:
[1]
Manual for Cultural Foundations of Ancient Eastern Civilazations page 83
Picture from [2]
Lorn McLaren Correction by Lorn McLaren
