Of Ancient Urbanization: The Uruk Model

Home to Gilgamesh, Uruk was the major force of urbanization and state formation during the 4th millennium BC. In the Epic of Gilgamesh, the king is said to have built the city’s monumental walls. There may be some truth to the legend, these walls, as well as other city structures, were actually unearthed by archaeologists. Uruk was one of the most important cities in southern Mesopotamia. This city lies about 241 km (150 miles) to the south of Baghdad, the present capital of Iraq. In ancient times, Uruk was situated on the eastern banks of a channel of the Euphrates River. Over the millennia, however, the channel dried up, and its course shifted away from the city by about 19 km (12 miles). The ancient city of Uruk is also known in Arabic as Tell al-Warka, and in Aramaic / Hebrew as Erech. The site of Uruk is believed to have been settled as early as the Ubaid period (which lasted from around the 7th to the 4th millennium BC). Although Uruk’s history may be traced archaeologically to the 6th millennium BC, and perhaps even further back, the city’s rise to prominence occurred only around 3800 BC. As Uruk became the main force of urbanization and state formation, the period that lasted roughly from 3800 to 3200 became known as the Uruk period.

Initially, Uruk’s territorial expansion was focused on the southwestern Iranian plains to the east of Mesopotamia. In Susa (a city located about 250 km (155 miles) to the east of Uruk), for instance, ceramic seals and bullae (counters) were discovered. These objects served an administrative function, and the concept was probably brought there by the people of Uruk. It seems that the Uruk expansion reached further afield as well. For instance, Uruk material culture has been discovered at sites in areas as far as Syria and southeastern Anatolia. The nature of these settlements is still a subject of debate, as various views of such sites have been put forward. Some, for instance, have argued that these were colonies or trade posts set up by the inhabitants of Uruk, whilst others have suggested that these were locals who sought to emulate the culture of Uruk. The fortunes of Uruk fluctuated in the following millennium. At times, Uruk was able to maintain its independence. During other periods, however, the city was subjected to foreign rulers. Uruk continued to be a significant city for the various civilizations that came to rule over Mesopotamia, including the Akkadians, Assyrians, Achaemenids, and Seleucids. The city was eventually abandoned around the 2nd century AD.

(Source: https://www.ancient-origins.net/ancient-places-asia/uruk-sumerian-003653)