Cities and Temples Ca. 2500 bce
ABSTRACT
This lecture discusses the emergence of the first cities in Mesopotamia and contextualizes this event in the context of an extreme landscape of marshes that needed to be managed and controlled in order for it to be productive. It required new and more powerful deities leading to the novel building type known as the ziggurat. The lecture also discusses Mari as one of the first great entrepôt cities in the world, designed exclusively around trade.

KEY PEOPLES AND DEITIES
•	Ezina/Ashnan (Demeter) Grain goddess
•	Nanna and Ningal
•	Sumerians

KEY CONCEPTS
•	Sumer (ca. 4,000 – 2,300 BCE)
•	The Akkadian Empire (ca. 2,000 - 2300 BCE)
•	Indus Valley Civilization
•	Temple Institution
•	Foundation Peg
•	Statue of Gudea
•	Temple Drums
•	Copper Age (beginning around 5,000 BCE)
•	Interaction Zone

KEY PLACES
•	Eridu  (Village: 5000 BCE city c. 2900 BC)
•	Ur (city: 2500 BCE – important city 2000 BCE)
•	Mehrgarh (7000 BCE to c. 2500 BCE)
•	Mari Palace: (2900 BCE – 1759 BCE)
•	Harappa (ca. 2600-1900 BCE) 
•	BMAC (The Bactria–Margiana Archaeological Complex)
•	Gonur (2500 – 1500 BCE)