Introduction
Map showing the region of Mesopotamia as well as early Egypt.
Lesson by: Ilana Goodwin and Ninyshka Sánchez
Introduction
Throughout the lesson, we will be learning about the cultures and people of Mesopotamia, Egypt, and Iran—all regions with a long history. Throughout, however, it is important to remember that these lands are not places in the past. Each unique space has been inhabited by different peoples across the centuries and has changed in many ways. Today these lands are living, breathing spaces with vibrant cultures.
We will start by learning about some early cultures of western Asia, specifically the region known as Mesopotamia. Currently, this region of the world is composed of the countries of Iraq, Iran, Kuwait, Turkey, and Syria. Sometimes we hear this area called the Middle East, but this classification places it in relation to western Europe, and does not center the area as its own place in the world. For that reason, throughout this lesson, we will refer to it either as Mesopotamia, western Asia, or even by the modern-day countries that comprise this region.
We will also be looking at the early cultures of Egypt, in northeast Africa, and talking about the Nile River and the dry desert regions surround it. It is important to note that while Egypt is the modern name of the country, people living in this region in the past called the land Kemet.
The region of northern Africa and western Asia we are looking at have a variety of different climates and landforms. Let’s look at some of the geographical characteristics. There are parts where high mountains and soft hills reign; other areas are dry deserts and plateaus; and yet others have rivers and valleys. Because of these diverse landscapes, the areas have distinct climates and allow for different types of plants and animals to prosper. We call animals in nature fauna. Some fauna native to these lands include sheep, cows, pigs, ibex, horses, oxen, fish, snakes, as well as various types of reptiles and amphibians. The plants, which we call flora, also populate different areas according to their respective environments. Each area is special in its own way.
Just as there were and are various environments in western Asia and Egypt, we find the same for its diverse cultures and people. People migrated and adapted to each unique space. Every area had its own advantages and disadvantages, so people learned to work with their specific surroundings. Ancient objects have been discovered all around these regions, discovering thriving communities even in the harshest of places.
When ancient peoples started settling into their environments, they began domesticating a wide range of plants and animals. The practice of farming, or agriculture, first began around 10,000 BCE. Most of the domesticated versions of plants like wheat, barley, lentils, onions, chickpeas, garlic, lettuce, and dates come from varieties found in the wild. In the past, people selected and bred forms of these plants that farmers liked, and throughout the years this constant selection and breeding created the domesticated versions of plants we have today. Agriculture went hand in hand with irrigation, a series of techniques that were developed to bring enough water to communities and their crops.
The Standard of Ur, Royal Cemetery of Ur, Ur, Iraq, Early Dynastic III, 2500 BCE, box, Height: 21.70 in., Length: 50.40 in. , Width: 11.60 in. © British Museum, https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/W_1928-1010-3
Most animals that were domesticated were already native to the area. One example of this is the horse. Horses were around in most regions of western Asia, and once domesticated (around 3000 BCE), they were a big part of different societies. We find evidence of this in graves, where researchers have identified harnessing gear and even remains of horse corrals. (Today we call this extinct horse the tarpan or Eurasian horse.) A great example is the Standard of Ur, a box decorated with scenes of horses, carriages, and people. We also see horses made out of clay, like the one below.
Horse with Painted Abstract Design, western Iran, ceramic, height: 10 1/8 in. (25.72 cm), LACMA, gift of Alice A. Heeramaneck (M.75.62.10), https://collections.lacma.org/node/241122
The settlements of people in different geographical areas led to revolutions in art and culture. Whether it was a small community in the mountains or a large metropolis, each community developed its own way of making art. Throughout the lesson, we will take a look at art from different regions, including art from rural communities, specific city-states, and even famous empires. Some of the civilizations we will discuss include ancient Sumer, Akkad, Babylonia, Assyria, Persia, and Egypt. We will first discuss cultures and communities that developed alongside river systems and their relationships with these landscapes. Then we will look at cultures that inhabited lands of drier climates. Throughout we will present some of the art made by these communities and how these objects reflect a deep relationship between people and their respective landscapes.