Daiva Ahire
LIB 200
Prof. Tom Regan
10/26/2009
Assignment # 4 (Rewrite)
The Role of Uruk and its Contribution to Civilization
Iraq is known today as the country of war and terror. Only decade ago, when the
horrifying details of the dictator’s Sadam Hussein’s regime were revealed, we felt sympathy and
compassion toward innocent Iraqis. Today, after September 11 terrorist attack, Iraq became war
zone and most people in America believed that all Iraqis our enemies and potential predators.
The influence of media and images from the war had changed our perspective of this country
with deep roots as a ancient civilization. Uruk was first urban center in the land of ancient
Mesopotamia, but its traces are still found in today’s Iraq covered with sand and dust. The
findings of cuneiform tablets lead us to the origins of writing, beginning of mathematical
reasoning and discovering the earlier structures of the cities. Uruk was place of ancient science,
humanity and technology.
According to the “Bloomsbury Guide to Human Thought”, “technology is the application
of scientific principles to the problems of everyday living” (Credo Reference). The society or
civilization progresses with enhanced or more developed technology. Writing is an example of
the result of technology to preserve and develop academic environment (Bloomsbury Guide).
The first traces of writing we found in the ancient Uruk in the form of cuneiform tablets. The
tokens made from the clay had evolved to writing. The first scripts had “pictographic word signs
traced with a pointed stylus on the surface of a clay tablet, and metrological signs impressed
either vertically or obliquely and by either the thin or the thick end of a cylindrical stylus”
(Hoyrup 258). According to “The Columbia Encyclopedia”, Uruk belonged to the Sumerian
civilization, which is credited to invention of cuneiform system of writing (Credo Reference).
Daiva Ahire
LIB 200
Prof. Tom Regan
10/26/2009
Assignment # 4 (Rewrite)
Using signs and word Uruk people were able to describe their culture, mythology, social
structure and religious beliefs. They used writing as technological tool to pass the information to
new generation.
The ancient agricultural society of Uruk had a token system which served for distribution
of the food and grains among the people. The token system had evolved into the science of
accounting. Science is “‘knowledge’ conceals an origin in the idea of finding out about things by
subdividing them and sorting the pieces”, however in ancient times the word science meant “the
study or skill of any field of knowledge” (Bloomsbury Guide). As the exchange of tokens for the
goods increased, Uruk people improved the types of token by adding additional strokes on the
surface. Furthermore, the primitive accounting system had incorporated to the new discovery –
writing (Hoyrup 278). The trades of goods among the Uruk people allow them to deepen their
knowledge in mathematics, accounting and eventually to writing. Mastering the knowledge of
accounting allow the growth of Sumerian civilization.
The cuneiform tablets also allowed us to see Uruk’s humanistic contribution to the
civilization. According to “The Encyclopedia of The Renaissance”, humanism is “any system of
beliefs that places human affairs at its centre” (Credo Reference). The development of
technology and science Uruk’s people used for their progress as a nation. With the new
inventions they could take control of their environment. The accounting system and mathematic
allowed to maintain economic order in the city. Development of effective irrigational system led
Uruk people to convert deserted area to the agricultural land which was the main source of food.
Writing as technology also was used to pass the word of knowledge to the next generations.
Daiva Ahire
LIB 200
Prof. Tom Regan
10/26/2009
Assignment # 4 (Rewrite)
In conclusion, due to recent events and political situation in Iraq we tend to forget the
importance of their ancient history, which gave rise to the first civilization. Today, the city of
Uruk is covered with dust and sand, but the archeological findings reveal some details of the
beginning of the civilization. The tokens made from clay initiated mathematical thinking which
resulted in origins of accounting and economics. The technology used to improve tokens had
resulted in the most important discovery of human history – writing, which sustained the
knowledge for the new generations use. With the new inventions they also could take control
over their lives which lead to the humanism.
Daiva Ahire
LIB 200
Prof. Tom Regan
10/26/2009
Assignment # 4 (Rewrite)
Works Cited
"Sumer." The Columbia Encyclopedia. New York: Columbia University Press, 2008. Credo
Reference. Web. 13 October 2009.
"Technology." Bloomsbury Guide to Human Thought. London: Bloomsbury Publishing Ltd,
1993. Credo Reference. Web. 12 October 2009.
"Science." Bloomsbury Guide to Human Thought. London: Bloomsbury Publishing Ltd, 1993.
Credo Reference. Web. 12 October 2009.
"humanism." The Encyclopaedia of the Renaissance. Aylesbury: Market House Books Ltd,
1987. Credo Reference. Web. 12 October 2009.
Høyrup, Jens “The roles of Mesopotamian bronze age mathematics tool for state formation and
administration – carrier of teachers’ professional intellectual autonomy.” Educational Studies in
Mathematics; Oct2007, Vol. 66 Issue 2, p257-271