Uruk: Origins and Legends of History's Earliest City

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Source/Further reading:
General History:
www.ancient.eu/uruk/
www.metmuseumo.org/toah/hd/ur...
books.google.com/books/about/...
Origins of Uruk: agricultural revolution, societal development and local economy
archive.org/details/LiveraniM...
Origins of Writing: www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/wrt...
Gilgamesh, his ancestors and Uruk’s trade networks:
www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/gil...
books.google.com/books/about/...
www.jstor.org/stable/2743567?...
Inanna:
books.google.com/books/about/...
Recent Explorations:
www.rferl.org/a/1099592.html
www.newscientist.com/article/...
www.researchgate.net/publicat...
www.researchgate.net/publicat...
www.researchgate.net/publicat...

[@geographicstravel]

Go to curiositystream.thld.co/geographicsapr for unlimited access to the world’s top documentaries and non­fiction series. Use promo code geographic to get your first 30 days, completely free!

[@FMRovers]

you made a vid about Jericho... and said it was founded around 10.000 BC .... - This does not compute -

[@ignitionfrn2223]

Just in case, i have made several comments with a table of content on several of your videos: if you want to add it the description, feel free...

[@Skrajne_centrum]

I had a dream, where Simon go back to VP

[@dudepool7530]

Hey Simon, since scientists are always finding these "autistic renderings", can those of us on the spectrum get a little recognition XD

[@FMRovers]

@Wim de B Gobekili Tepi was not a city or a place where people live. there is no archeological evidence to support that. But it was a place of gathering for trade and possible worship. that is older that any other human made place that is found. as speculated, they made it, used it. buried it and moved north as the icecaps. Maybe it were the Neanderthals.... :)

[@viniciusgomes5147]

remember when Gilgamesh and Enkidu went to the cedar forest and slayed Humbaba? now those were the days.

[@alexdill9667]

How about "Darmok on the ocean. Shaka when the walls fell."? If you remember the source of this, I bow to your greatness LOL

[@OTGT26]

great times

[@jpgduff]

@@alexdill9667 Darmok and Tenagra...when the walls fell

[@BergmitetheBlueandPointy0712]

From Extra Mythology ?

[@YodaSmokes]

Pepperidge farm remembers

[@jacobhuff3748]

"1st to introduce humanity to the joys of bureaucracy" that explains why it has been buried for millennia.

[@honda6353]

Good one, sir.

[@nessarigby5911]

*slow clap*

[@greenkoopa]

Too much red tape

[@dallasreynolds2962]

It did it to itself.

[@alexsm3882]

They had to hide that evil from the world

[@rauldobble3222]

Uruk was literally founded at the end of the Ice Age. It’s so fascinating that we can trace human history and development back to that time.

[@paradoxxaudiovisualproduct9430]

Dogoland?

[@anom3778]

Imagine how advanced civilization was before the ice age wiped it out and they had to rebuild.

[@gahrie]

The "last ice age " hasn't ended. Civilization did not cause global warming, global warming caused civilization. The Earth is currently in an ice age called the Quarternary. This ice age began 2.5 million years ago. During this ice age there have been several warm periods, called interglacials. The Earth is in one now, called the Holocene. There are indications that this interglacial period is coming to an end, and that the Earth is about to get colder. Modern man first appeared 300,000 years ago. For 290,000 years we wandered the Earth as hunter-gatherers. All of human existence has occurred during an ice age. A little less than 12,000 years ago, the Holocene began, and the Earth began to warm. The seas rose 400 feet, and then stopped. There has been virtually no more rise in sea levels for 2,500 years. Around this time, man discovered agriculture. Agriculture led to surplus. Surplus led to specialization. Specialization led to cities. Cities led to civilization. Civilization led to history. This all happened around 5,000 years ago. All of human existence has been within an ice age. All of human history and civilization has been within an interglacial of that ice age. We literally know of nothing else.

[@guaporeturns9472]

@@gahrie you say we literally know nothing but you talk like only you know the real story.. so are you a god or a mere mortal?

[@gahrie]

@@guaporeturns9472 no... I know history. You should too

[@alklazaris3741]

The first time I heard about Gilgamesh I was learning the story of Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra.

[@2thinkcritically]

Ah yes, when the walls fell

[@Mecha82]

I learned about him from Fate Stay Night.

[@walther2492]

Tamba, his arms wide! (For me, ST:TnG is the best series ever)

[@FirestormX9]

@@Mecha82 same

[@harryzimmerman7991]

HIS EYES UNCOVERED!!

[@Akmundra1]

The Epic of Gilgamesh is a pretty fun read, but you just have to keep in mind that a lot of it is missing. There are some gaps in the story and sources come from differing languages and timeframes, but it’s still pretty impressive how much we have recovered.

[@QuantumRift]

Darmok on the ocean, Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra, Darmok and Jalad on the ocean!

[@williamjameslehy1341]

Yes I personally can't wait until they release the Snyder Cut of the Epic of Gilgamesh.

[@marys1534]

It's extremely impressive if for no other reason than its age, that the historical tone almost reads as if Biblical... I personally read this, when it was first introduced to me many MANY years ago, with a reverence that came close to my initial childhood perusal of the Bible (it has since become something different for me as a Christian, but my initial HISTORIC impression of the two writings was very similar. Both of my first readings were quite magical and left a lasting impression on my soul.

[@britishbluenekochan]

Local king finds a plant for inmortality but fails delivering it back to Uruk because he got dabbed by a snake.

[@synergy40]

@@QuantumRift Sokath, his eyes uncovered!

[@ihabalwash5829]

Thank you for this beautiful work I'm an Iraqi and I feel very sad for the neglection of the birthplace of human civilization and the whole awesome ancient history of Iraq, unfortunately Mesopotamia (Iraq) has been suffering for a long time now from conflicts and wars and is still unstable to this day while a whole lot of precious archeological treasures and secrets are buried in its grounds waiting to be discovered and introduced to the world

[@supernecessary9058]

I'm of an Iraqi origin as well my friend and feel the same sadness. Probably the coolest civilization on earth unfortunately neglected for sectarian interminable conflicts

[@eurodelano]

Praying for Iraq every day.

[@ihabalwash5829]

@@supernecessary9058My friend, I've lived my entire life in Iraq and it really hurts to see all the wonderful history and the great resources and capabilities of this country laid to waste like this but I'm still hoping that one day Mesopotamia will rise again

[@ihabalwash5829]

@@eurodelano Greetings to your nobel soul and thank you for your thoughts and prayers

[@ephennell4ever]

Well, patience may be called for; it's been waiting for millennia, another decade or two isn't a big deal. It *would* help for various groups to be organized and plan for the re-start of serious work, though. I'm pretty sure there's enough there to keep 4 or 5 different groups busy for years!

[@kieranklein2527]

"Horrid mongrels tresspassing upon my city." - Gilgamesh Probly

[@radjadawamindra697]

ZASSHU

[@ShinHakumen]

ONORE!

[@Mecha82]

They are indeed mongrels.

[@The_Viscount]

"I am the one true king. All others are mere pretenders. As all the world belongs to me, so do all its treasures both known and to be discovered."

[@kieranklein2527]

@I'm illiterate nice

[@ausboh652]

I was there at Uruk last week! Unfortunately, the site was quite dilapidated due to past rainstorms. Some remnants of a temple next to the tall mound, which...in a land so flat as Iraq...is clearly a ziggurat. Really amazing to see original brickwork, however.

[@btetschner]

I imagine that was exciting. What important history.

[@iainhowe4561]

Amazing! I'm full of envy at your opportunity!

[@trybeanpole1873]

I’ve been all over the world and one place on my bucket list is Iraq. So much history from the most ancient, to medieval Golden ages, to modern triumph and tragedy. Though I’ve traveled through some places in the Middle East, Central America and East Asia, Iraq has always scared me as much as interested me. So I am truly envious of you. To stand in the presence of Uruk, Eridu, Ur or Mari..not to mention Babylon would be absolutely profound.

[@Amar90]

@@trybeanpole1873 you’d be more than welcome. It’s a lot safer than the media makes it out to be and the people love tourists. Now they made the visa very easy to get!!

[@2scoop831]

Is the area open to tourists ?

[@Kaiserboo1871]

Can you imagine what it was like to live in Uruk. You are literally living on an island of settled civilization in a sea of hunter/gatherers, isolated farmers, and tiny villages.

[@rorytribbet6424]

While not 100% accurate, it’s pretty much akin to living in the western world or Soviet Union anytime between the Industrial Revolution and like the 1960’s… so you can sort imagine it more easily that way.

[@loke6664]

Çatalhöyük and Jericho also deserves a mention, the reason neither of them are usually seen as the worlds oldest city is the fact that neither of them had a central administration (which is pretty hard since neither of them had writing). They did however have a rather large population thousands of years before Uruk. Heck, there is a 9000 year old tower in Jericho, if that doesn't impress you I don't know what does. But Uruk is really where literature and history began. There are places in Balkan and Turkey that might had writing earlier (archaeologists are still scratching their heads there so it isn't proven) but even if they did, they used it only sparely and to write down one or a few words. Uruk first used it to manage their economy and then started things like writing down stories and historical events, finally pulling humanity out of pre-history. If Herodotus was the father of history, then Uruk certainly was it's mother.

[@bondye5929]

God is a Turk

[@loke6664]

@@bondye5929 Lol, Turkey certainly have some rather interesting early settlements but Jericho is not in Turkey. There is also the question if most of the early settlements in other areas just have been destroyed the last 10 000 years ago or if the Levant is unique for some reason. Almost all of the ones we found have been in remote places with little human occupation since. Turkey is also relatively peaceful so archaeologists can actually find these sites. There is for instance the question if the rivers during the green Sahara had settlements but most of the area is so worn torn no one really dare to go there and find out. It could be either way, there could have been many similar settlements in places with more occupation that have been destroyed or something unique could have been going on in this place, both are equally likely, we just don't know. But that does not make these sites less interesting and it will be exciting to see what more the archaeologists will find there. Only Jericho have really been fully excavated and even there new excavations with modern methods could find a lot new information.

[@bondye5929]

@@loke6664 no seriously god is a Turk

[@loke6664]

@@bondye5929 I dunno, a bit too many earthquakes to be sure about that. You also have the mysterious fall of the probably greatest civilization in Turkey: The Hittites. They were one of the greatest ancient civilizations and they more or less mysteriously disappeared in a few short years during the Bronze age collapse. People usually blame the Sea people for that but since many of the cities were far from the sea that explanation seems doubtful at best. There is also Troy, who probably fell more times then most cities, it is in Turkey. So if God is a Turk, he is a bit of a jerk, earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions, barbaric hordes and I don't know what. But Turkey is certainly one of the most interesting places of the world when we are talking pre history and rather interesting in the historical era as well. The Hittites, the Byzantins and and the Ottomans all came from that area as well as a bunch of smaller civilizations and it is possible agriculture was invented there too (that isn't 100% clear though, the oldest known place to cultivate some kind of crops are a 22 500 year old site in modern Israel and the earliest domesticated animal besides the dog was a bird on Java but those are the ones we know about, Turkey is also a good contender on the "who invented agriculture" first). As for the worlds oldest city, people usually count Ur since they had an administration but there are arguments for Çatalhöyük, it all depends how you define a city. Boncuklu Tarla and Karahan Tepe in Turkey also seems to have the worlds oldest known temples, if you don't count a weird Neanderthal cave construction from 120 000 years ago which could be a temple. Writing on the other hand is out, it was either invented in Iraqi or possibly Egypt (Iraqi is leading by a 100 year so far but that is so close that it is possible the Egyptians were first).

[@freefall9832]

With Uruk came a slave/worker class, and Jericho was still an early human society. With modern society, enter rulers and slaves. First, control the food supply, then create debt and indebt the population.

[@Amar90]

The name Iraq is derived from URUK. Greetings to everyone watching, from Mesopotamia Iraq 🇮🇶

[@alklazaris3741]

Gilgamesh and Enkidu at Iraq is an interesting way to see it.

[@mrsanity]

@@alklazaris3741 Gilgamesh, when the walls fell.

[@LannasMissingLink]

Thats such a cool fact! I love they kept the nod to history

[@foxsicle]

@@mrsanity Enkidu, his eyes opened

[@antidoteforlife9460]

Hello friend, I hope your doing well. Iraqi history is amazing, the fertile crescent and Mesopotamia to the ubaid to sumerian, akkadian, assyrian, Babylonians, all the king wars, and then Persian empire to the ottomans. All the power struggles and treasures and tributes and inventions from that region boggles the mind. And that's not even going into the religous importance of the area. It's so fascinating, I saw king tiglath-piliser treasure on KZbin and the quality of craftsmanship is lost art, the details are unbelievable and rivaling Egyptian tomb treasures, it goes to show how powerful and successful these kings were and how many ppl were subjugated at the time, blows the mind to see how much change throughout history has occurred

[@saladinbob]

Big mistake at the three minute mark. You're giving climatological information based upon today. When Uruk was founded the planet was still exiting the Ice Age with the glaciers still retreating. The area was a savannah, a lot less hot than today. Fun fact: When Uruk was formed Woolly Mammoths were still around.

[@jpgduff]

Source?

[@marys1534]

@@jpgduff Well common sense indicates that this theory is fairly sound.

[@another3997]

@@marys1534 Common sense does not equal evidence, and you would be surprised how commonly "common sense" is completely and utterly wrong. As ancient man no doubt said many time "The sun goes round the Earth... it's common sense".

[@another3997]

If scientists are to be believed, the Earth is still exiting the last ice age, which is a very slow process by human standards.

[@jwadaow]

@@another3997 The Earth and Sun are moving relative to one another. If you take the Earth as your frame of reference then the other objects are moving while the Earth remains at the same coordinates. That is why the plane is still and the air is moving when engineers perform wind tunnel tests. Nobody has ever Said what the galaxy is going around because it makes absolutely no sense to talk in those terms when everything is in motion relative to everything else.

[@ignitionfrn2223]

1:05 - Chapter 1 - A city of firsts 2:30 - Chapter 2 - Origins story 7:10 - Chapter 3 - Consummate cuneiform 9:25 - Mid roll ads 10:20 - Chapter 4 - Epic heroes & international trade 14:30 - Chapter 5 - Fierce goddess of love 17:50 - Chapter 6 - The long sunset 20:40 - Chapter 7 - Rediscovery

[@valiroime]

- Chapter 6 - $$$ Profit $$$

[@HeyItsJonny]

Thanks.

[@jameskosusnik1102]

Too bad alot of this is just wrong according to anthropologists. Like Uruk is not the "first" city at all çatalhöyűk and 2 others are contenders. Çatalhöyűk predates Uruk by 4,000 years

[@greenkoopa]

@@jameskosusnik1102 my mom predates YOU by 4000 years 😛

[@jameskosusnik1102]

@@greenkoopa cringe kid

[@Anna-po1sb]

She stole the sacred Meh and to this day it still circulates the internet

[@foxsicle]

...meh.

[@ephennell4ever]

Eh, meh ... whatever ...

[@gigglesmcgee2052]

Meh? Genuinely interested

[@billbixby557]

I was stationed near the ancient city of Ur many moons ago. Being a fan of history since I was knee high, it was quite thrilling to actually be at the Fertile Crescent, the place just felt old...in a good way.

[@harishs9003]

Til:Fertile crescent

[@nessarigby5911]

Love the recent focus on ancient Mesopotamia on your channels. Sargon and now Uruk, and you guys even give Enheduanna the clout she deserves. Loving it.

[@tom4ivo]

Uruk may also have been abandoned due to salt buildup in the soil. Irrigation water often contains salts, which when the water evaporates, is left in the soil. Rain and flooding can flush the salts away, but there wasn't much rain, and as the Euphrates River moved away from the city, there was less and less flooding of the nearby fields. The result was that the soil became less able to support crops. There are areas today between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers which, when they tried to irrigate and grow crops in the 20th century, were unable to do so.

[@aaron5222]

As a beer enthusiasts. This is where it all starts!

[@mixerD1-]

🤣🤣🤣

[@JustSpectre]

Thanks for mentioning Enmerkar and Lugalbanda, they rarely get attention. Although Lugalbanda was not Enmerkar's son, but one of his warriors who helped to defeat Arrata besieged by Enmerkar's troops. Uruk is one of the most fascinating places on Earth and I'm glad it's getting attention.

[@jordonstewart2092]

Witness the defense of Uruk, the greatest and richest of cities! The deluge of the land is my will! "Melammu Dingir"!

[@wayneigoe6722]

There's the Fate fan... I knew we were here somewhere. Its a shame you chose to quote the NP of the trash version of Gilgamesh... Enuma Elish all the way!

[@jimmymonztarella8562]

The man with the Beard 🧔 spreading education though out the lands

[@brosephyolonarovichstalin2915]

Complete with mid lesson adverts and plugs! How very modern!

[@nilesbutler8638]

Ehh - rather the man with the beard, host for hire, ready to read out any text any production firm emails him, in front of a camera. Mr Whistler has not the least part in the writing of his shows. And for example visualpolitic is simply a transcription of the spanish show of the same name, completely done by a chinelan media firm. He is a talking head for hire.

[@bvagasky83]

This comment brought to you by Beard Blaze. Allegedly.

[@ghowell13]

@@bvagasky83 I see you too are a man of culture 😉

[@graemecameron5685]

@@nilesbutler8638 he literally owns and runs all his own youtube channels.

[@jordonstewart2092]

“ I will tell you of the beginning. Heaven and Earth split, nothingness congratulated creation, my Sword of Rupture cleaved the world!" "Mortar of the stars, heaven's hell is the eve of creation's celebration. Now you shall die and be silent..." "Enuma Elish!"

[@seekingtruthnotfindingany7301]

Enuma was a misguided soul.

[@timmyboysamus1816]

Always gives me goosebumps. The wording is just so damn epic

[@rikospostmodernlife]

@@seekingtruthnotfindingany7301 ... What?

[@YoSora1313]

@@rikospostmodernlife It's the nobel phantasm of Gilgamesh, EA. It's attack is named Enuma Elish.

[@rikospostmodernlife]

@@YoSora1313 wh... what? It's some kind of sentai?

[@alexdill9667]

My 12th grade World History teacher had us do research on Uruk. It was fascinating! I could have easily become an archeologist because of it. So many firsts in that civilization. The change from hunter-gatherers was much faster than we realize.

[@badcampa2641]

'Abrahamic history' denies conceals and destroys the truth. Uruk is a dumphole same as it always was

[@williamthompson5504]

bad campa says who? You’re welcome to back up your statement via link.

[@badcampa2641]

@@williamthompson5504 just look at that quality stonework lol the ancient submerged ruins in southern India (as mentioned by SW in an 'ancient mysteries' video) must have built when the sea was much lower, which then validates Ancient Vedic literature like Surya Siddhantha and Hinduism in general

[@bellamckinnon8655]

@@badcampa2641 you didn’t provide a link for William

[@badcampa2641]

@@bellamckinnon8655 i gave evidence which provide several links, Surya Siddhantha dates 16'000 bc, the submerged stone ruins are contemporary, ancient Vedic literature is validated, the Abrahamic predator has no clothes, even Jesus C was a Buddhist returned from Kashmir

[@jeffreeves8425]

Been watching your videos daily, can’t get enough. Excellent work. Thanks for re-igniting my passion for history!🤙🏻

[@luckner14]

1 Simon a day, keeps geologist at bay💪🏾

[@Lordhermitcrab]

you cannot keep me away as easy as that

[@Flugmorph]

geographers vs geologists is the funniest fewd in science to me

[@genghisgalahad8465]

What hosting job does he NOT do? It’s like there’s no specialty or actual involvement needed. All you need to be is a host and you can host anything.

[@meridien52681]

@@genghisgalahad8465 Yeah, but that voice tho. I could listen to him read the back of a cereal box.

[@accaliamurraymusic]

Simon - if you see this, I adore your dedication to education and entertainment. It almost feels illegal to view such high quality content without paying, but man I'm grateful for it. I feel like my general knowledge and worldview would be dangerously limited if KZbin never came to be. Although -- I'm worried about how much longer Google will allow stuff like this to be free.

[@wingerding]

Don't see why they would ever do that. They'd surely lose money. Why are you worried about this?

[@drewdemersyt8153]

Ad revenue go brrrrrr

[@davudlastname2545]

Ah yes Uruk, home of Gilgamesh, Enkidu, Merlín and Medusa

[@ginbei711]

You forgot the useless goddess and the best goddess

[@lucki-monkhi]

Also forgot the Old Man of the Mountain and Tiamat

[@davudlastname2545]

@@ginbei711 aka lewd Rin and wholesome Rin

[@Ap3xSqu1rr3l]

The fgo players have appeared

[@mediumlowlight]

Dont forget a random japanese heroes do pop up here

[@scottcraig3816]

When I was in Iraq out base actually extended right to it. We were able to make trips out to the Ziggurat when we had down time. There was an extremely knowledgeable older local that would do the tours. Knew so much about it. Sadly he refused to take certain unit types because a National Guard unit decided to tag a thousands of years old site. Sadly they also did it the Lions of Babylon site as well. Still glad I got to see such history!

[@Bambisgf77]

I am glad you were able to experience that but it is deeply disappointing & embarrassing that our troops should behave so disrespectfully to such an ancient site. 😢

[@seanbrazell6147]

Absolutely fantastic episode! I dig this sort of deep history content here on geographics (and on your other 900 MILLION other channels too! ☝😁👌)

[@robertgoff6479]

I like the keywords displayed on the screen to emphasize parts of your narrative. Helps with those of us with more visual learning style.

[@GrndAdmiralThrawn]

Meh

[@jamiegodwin3070]

Your videos are absolutely fascinating. Thank you Simon

[@alexwombat8288]

That's the video i was waiting for since this channel got started ! Great stuff man

[@JBPazos]

LOOK AT THAT MAJESTIC BEARD

[@somebody7431]

Rivaled by the majestic shiny head

[@drewlovely2668]

So exquisite

[@sandybarnes887]

Thank goodness he makes the oil Beard Blaze ™️

[@bluewatson4341]

Matched only by Sargon of Akkad Himself.

[@silencerbear9347]

Cool it man. He’s married. Have some respect

[@d1j16]

The Epic of Gilgamesh was the first written documentation of 'The Hero's Journey', which has been repeated and replicated all the way to the latest hit movies and books of this year. Yes, your favourite story/book/movie was born circa 7K years BCE, or 9-10K years ago.

[@bpalpha]

Isn't the flood event in the Epic of Gilgamesh greatly similar to the biblical tale of Noah? Some say the biblical tale is plagiarized from the Epic of Gilgamesh.

[@d1j16]

@@bpalpha The flood of the bible is an absolute rip-off of the Gilgamesh tale. Gilgamesh was first recorded, as far as we know at the moment, circa 2100 BCE, the flood in the Hebrew Torahs, later the Christian Bible, was recorded somewher between 1200 BCE and 100 CE. It's likely adopted from when the Black Sea filled in as the land between that basin and the Mediterranean gave way. Survivors of that event, roughly 7600 BCE, handed down the story to later generations and it was shared far & wide becoming legend, first written in Gilgamesh. Cheers

[@SchoolforHackers]

See: Joseph Campbell

[@jergarmar]

Incredible video, I couldn't look away. You really outdid yourself on this one.

[@nichhodge8503]

Another great video Simon I really enjoyed it

[@IrinaAlexander1]

The Zigurrat you show several times is the from Ur. I visited it last week. Amazing place; too bad Uruk was too difficult to visit with local permissions needed.

[@volodymyrcuza9994]

Thanks a lot for the great video! I'm so interested in History of Mesopotamia and especially of Summer:)

[@prof.cecilycogsworth3204]

Thanks so much for this intriguing video!

[@jimlaker6552]

I loved that period teen school drama they did set in this city. Uruk High it was called.

[@haydenjumper08]

Ah yes unfortunately ended by a troublesome gang of fellows

[@ShinHakumen]

Gilgamesh doesn't have friends. He has followers.

[@dallasreynolds2962]

Whoah there... we can't make that joke here. Simons far too formal here to admit he doesn't get that one.

[@somethingelse4424]

In an interpersonal struggle for the "Meh". I would watch.

[@TeddyKrimsony]

their trouble started with their destruction of the nearby forest

[@williamliamsmith4923]

3:00 when Uruk was founded the climate in northern hemisphere was very different compared to today. The Sahara in the west was green. Saraswati river in the east was overflowing. So the amount of rain as well and summer temperatures in Mesopotamia must have been very different from what we see today.

[@allewis4008]

The world was recovering from the ice age, the cradle of humanity would have been like Southern France in those times

[@grannyweatherwax8005]

He completely lost me when he seemed oblivious to the climate being different at that time. Also he doesn’t seem to know the difference between “the first” and “the first that we know of”. Lots of very definite statements about things are that just theories. I couldn’t get halfway thru before stopping.

[@ThePatank]

what you telling me his sweet fake accent wasnt enough to keep you watching LOL@@grannyweatherwax8005

[@blenderbanana]

Then you missed out ​@@grannyweatherwax8005

[@btetschner]

Fantastic! I want to go there so badly. It is just incredible how far that history goes back. Thank you so so much for the video.

[@wingerding]

Give it 25 years and hopefully they will have much more for you to see!

[@btetschner]

@@wingerding I would love to see what they unearth.

[@robertenglehardt9706]

Great presentation- thank you!

[@rosscroft3954]

My absolute favourite part of ancient history

[@GrndAdmiralThrawn]

I wouldn’t say this is my favorite period. But it’s not my least favorite. It’s “meh”.

[@rosscroft3954]

@@GrndAdmiralThrawn thanks for that

[@scottnunnemaker5209]

I always read the story of Inanna less having to do with rural and cities folk, but just the rise of Uruk in general. Everywhere Uruk gained some influence or power they brought back something and gave it to their goddess.

[@sherylcrowe3255]

Simon: Thank you so much for your hard work and undying enthusiasm ! Your an amazing source of information and a sheer pleasure to watch ✌️

[@amaccama3267]

Love your work guys.

[@chris8456]

You guys are crushing it 🤙 I just found out about Caral, Peru. Would love to hear what you guys can find out about the place. Thanks for the knowledge bombs!🤯

[@CinnastixChick]

It always makes me laugh when I click on a random video from a random channel and this guy's face pops up. He's literally everywhere lol

[@iagosevatar4865]

One of the most passionating videos by far

[@carlstanford7607]

Excellent video and interesting subject

[@erika002]

"....However, without Quetzalcoatl to burn away the black mud, Tiamat continues her advance on foot. Upon returning to Uruk, Gilgamesh commends them on their efforts to defend the city and finally engages Tiamat personally with his magic. Tiamat attempts to snipe Ritsuka with a long range attack, but Gilgamesh blocks it, suffering a mortal wound as a result. Kingu then arrives and sacrifices himself to create the Chain of Heaven, binding Tiamat in place long enough for Ereshkigal to finish moving the Underworld. Ishtar blasts a hole underneath Tiamat, causing her to fall into the Underworld. Uruk was destroyed that day. While weakened, the black mud she generates begins to corrupt the Underworld, negating its power. The real Merlin then arrives, having traveled directly from Avalon, and neutralizes the black mud with his magic. He then tells Ritsuka that during his travels in the Singularity, he had unknowingly summoned a Grand Servant destined to battle Tiamat. Ziusu-dra then arrives, revealing himself to be the Grand Servant, the First Hassan-i Sabbah." PS I can't tell from this comment section if they are referencing history or the Fate Franchise or both. Might as well make one.

[@greenkoopa]

My sources? *ALIENS*

[@Selvariabell]

@@greenkoopa Silence, Zasshu!

[@planetdisco4821]

I believe Quetzalcoatl is Mayan?

[@ShinHakumen]

@@planetdisco4821 It's a game and anime reference mate. Look up FGO Babylonia XD And for the record, in FGO Quetz isn't exactly a Mayan. She's an alien XD

[@erika002]

@@greenkoopa nah mate, even Ancient Aliens cannot make this kind of lore

[@andrewfell7642]

Damn I'm never even this early for work

[@cynthiaahern9081]

I'm amazed! Everytime I watch one of your videos I come up with thousands of questions❤

[@beachboy0505]

It's all explained 👌 Excellent video thanks 😊

[@elihinze3161]

Hands down one of the coolest civilizations ever!

[@humancattoy7767]

I've been fascinated by this area. The cities of the Tigris and Euphrates.

[@carlstanford7607]

Great stuff

[@IndyOxCa]

Excellent documentary

[@robinderoos1166]

Likes for my boy Gilgamesh!

[@vixyl2203]

Small correction, alluvium is the deposit that you would find in an alluvial setting (river banks, flood plain, etc). An alluvial plan is just flat terrain that hosts numerous interconnected rivers (mostly non-perennial), which is why it is at risk of flooding.

[@Sardarkhan69]

What a fascinating video putting Uruk in the limelight! Thanks for this

[@jesperteilmannolesen7124]

I love history and this is one of your best videos

[@malvar3665]

Fate fans: "allow us to introduce ourselves"

[@Mecha82]

Fellow Fate fans unite!

[@uydagcusdgfughfgsfggsifg753]

What’s Fate

[@malvar3665]

@@uydagcusdgfughfgsfggsifg753 an anime based franchise with important figures of history and myth, that has the tendency to make said figures into anime girls XD

[@TylerBingBong]

Interesting this was chosen over Erbil! It would be really cool to see something on that city too. The citadel in the middle of the city is the historic part, and it is the longest consecutively lived in community in the world or something like that. It also has a fairly interesting modern history as well, being controlled by the Iraqi Kurds and the history that goes along with them too.

[@BenSHammonds]

very good program, full of good information that was well stated and presented

[@leetester8612]

Brilliant. Thank you.

[@joshbeck9761]

Anything from this period of time I eat up like candy, or opioids, I geek out, I love the history of the world it opens your mind up, and you see our connection with history. A continuous narrative.

[@Nachos237]

I'm glad to see more on Sumarians

[@em1osmurf]

riveting. good vid!

[@Mrgunsngear]

Thanks

[@DragoEclipse]

Anyone else here after watching or playing Fate/Grand Order Babylonia :3

[@Wargasmo]

I play against Gilgamesh in Civ 6 pretty often if that helps.

[@rednightfire2655]

Oh another Fate fan. Nice

[@Mecha82]

Caster Gil is best Gil.

[@jayw6034]

This is one of the coolest parts of our history

[@johndillermand4053]

You do divine work.

[@tookdalocster]

The bac ground music Alone murdered this keep it up Simon

[@nottelling2083]

iirc the irrigation also introduced salt into the soil, which may help explain the shift from wheats to barley, and a long term build up of salt-rich crusts of increasingly less fertility. The speculation went this may have crashed agriculture in the surrounding area as well.

[@clinct26]

Could you do a video about the lost ancient labyrinth of egypt which is burried beneath the sands in egypt confirmed by ground penetrating radar yet not many people know about it or talk about?

[@helmann9265]

Fantastic 💯 thanks 🌟

[@boden8138]

Well done

[@salahddinebensebane8429]

Fate fans : allow us to introduce ourselves

[@4emcarthur]

Fate Zero is the only one I've seen so far, & it kicks ass. Gilgamesh is the true King of Kings.

[@eusuffezzhariefelizany5732]

WE HAVE BEEN SUMMON

[@thelittleredhairedgirlfrom6527]

You rang?

[@Ap3xSqu1rr3l]

Fate fans: “We have been summoned”

[@Mecha82]

Indeed we were.

[@farabi1217]

You mongrols

[@gpanthony]

Yorokobe shonen!

[@TheEvilCommenter]

Good video 👍

[@multiyapples]

Very cool and interesting.

[@metalltitan]

I wasn't aware that the city was still inhabited after the Achaemenid Empire collapsed as most cities of Summer, Akkad and Assyria had by then already been depopulated and in ruins for centuries and oftentimes the people living in area could not remember who built them. But to think that it was still inhabited after the fall of the Western Roman Empire is shocking. Imagine if it had managed to survive. It'd be the oldest inhabited city today and one of the oldest (nearly) continuously inhabited sites on the planet.

[@metalltitan]

@Kong King Babylon yes, but we know from Greek sources that the cities of the Assyrian Empire lay in ruins before Alexander the Great ended the Persian Empire and people already had forgotten who build them.

[@harrisonmiller6475]

Can you do 1 on the Plains of Abraham?

[@justinweber4977]

I do love these looks at ancient history

[@valarie22]

oooh mr sparkle!!!

[@radstar2185]

Nice one 😀 could you do one on vinca culture next?

[@zch7491]

Ishtar has mad stamina

[@gamechanger8908]

Shamhat is even more impressive, sleeping with Enkidu for six days and seven nights, and the fact she was a mere human.

[@robertsimpson4532]

When I read the Epic of Gilgamish in high school, the name of the flood hero/survivor was Utnapishtim, not Atrahasis.

[@SeadogDriftwood]

The flood-survivor has various names depending on the version of the story. Atrahasis & Utnapishtim are just the two most common.

[@robertsimpson4532]

I see, similar to how Merlin is sometimes referred too as Tim the Enchanter. ;)

[@ihabalwash5829]

Atrahasis is the name of the flood survivor in the older Sumerian version of the Epic while Utnapishtim is his name in the later Babylonian version

[@Samm815]

@@ihabalwash5829 So it's a Ulysses/Odysseus issue?

[@kitt7477]

You are a wealth of all historical knowledge.

[@besomewheredosomething]

Simon, thank you once again for an amazingly narrated video about an amazing topic.

[@bhvillaman4401]

I believe this is the oldest city ever found not the first city ever.

[@owenshebbeare2999]

Likely true, but if you know of an older one...

[@somethinglikethat2176]

Is your belief based on anything or just speculation?

[@qr8440]

I believe Eridu is older

[@evilcam]

@@qr8440 Yeah, and it is even reflected in Sumerian myths, as mentioned in this video when innana stole the mes from Enki, and thereby relocated the center of civilization from Eridu to Uruk. Apparently the myth represents that transfer, and applies the reason for it to the divine. It also looks like Jericho, at least as a walled community dwelling, if not exactly a city, is older still. And who knows what else might be out there waiting to be unburied/rediscovered.

[@jacquestheberge5683]

It is not even the 'oldest' city ever found. Off the coasts of India and Egypt there are pretty vast big ruins of former cities, now un​derwater. Is it worthwhile to mention that sea levels were 400+ feet lower during the last Ice Age, AND that humans will live preferably along coastal areas? There are likely 100s if not 1000s of those former cities under the sea, but, marine archeologists just looooove their irrelevant shipwrecks. Why bother rewriting history if it will end your academic career?

[@thatzootsuit8007]

Fun fact: The Christian holiday Easter was originally a holiday from Mesopotamia celebrating the Goddess of Fertility Ishtar, in this video. This is why there are rabbits and eggs in modern day Easter! Christianity also piggy-backed the Roman Saturnalia holiday which originated from celebrating the Winter Solstice!

[@angrydoggy9170]

The Christian religion had to adopt loads of cultural habits to keep the people engaged. Basically adopting the Roman system of incorporating foreign deities and festivities in their own religion.

[@StinkyElbow12]

Holy shit, what an incredible video. Thanks man

[@MakaveliRaider]

Thanks this came at a perfect time. Right now im learning about Sumer/Mesopotamia and the earliest civilizations.

[@jpgduff]

Sumer*

[@DrLesleyStevens]

Make sure your learning PROPER.

[@MakaveliRaider]

@@DrLesleyStevens know any good sites or books on history.

[@stargazer536]

Ah am glad someone is learning about my land ❤️❤️ , do learn it all cuz its actually fun

[@jaywulf]

Imagine future archeologists analysing modern city like NY

[@andrewsuryali8540]

"Today scholars still debate whether the split between New York and New Jersey really started with the breakdown of relations between their rulers after the rise of Johnny Sack to the throne of New York or only after his death by cancer. Records do show that the Jersey ruler Tony Soprano deeply mourned the passing of his former friend."

[@RobertBeerbohm]

Maybe a dumb question, but the era of Gobekli Tepe appears to be much more extensive in area developing than many in our era originally had begun to think, it seems to me from my attempts at gleaning and absorbing as many various theories how it all developed. That said, that GT era is beginning like some 8000+ years earlier than "first city" Uruk which is circa 5000 BCE. That is a broad jump in time of many thousands of years. Urak, Ur, Gilgamesh, etc as an area is also long neglected in such details being taught at earlier school levels as entertaining as you make learning in to. Learning about 'earliest known' pay stub was brand new to me here. Love learning 'new' nuggets of history! Methinks there is a LOT of 'fill in the time line blanks' before we can even begin to think of such definitives as "first" of any thing. Better to stick with "earliest known" - and before we get further, am fascinated and love your broadcasts.

[@garyballard179]

Yeah, I was thinking that about Gobekli Tepe, too. He's going on about the oldest city, and I'm in the timeframe of 9,000-10,000 BC - and then at the three and a half minute mark, he's bringing up the dates around 5,000 BC. Even a lot of the comments on the video are about how old this Uruk is, but no mention of the _even older_ cities we know about. And this video is a bit older, but it's not _that_ old; GT was known about before this video posted. It's just a little confusing.

[@andrewness]

​@@garyballard179Gobekli Tepi wasn't a city. There's no obvious signs of large scale habitation. Instead, it appears to have been a ritual site.

[@garyballard179]

@@andrewness Gobleki Tepi isn't the only thing in the immediate area. Notre Dame isn't a city, either. It's _inside a city._

[@garyballard179]

@@andrewness Specifically, the eleven sites surrounding Gobleki Tepi are all habitations, covering 23 sq miles (Roughly the size of Manhattan Island in New York). Individually, they might be considered large villages - but they were all connected to each other and to Gobleki Tepi. So, they're more like the districts of one planned city. Given the size, it could easily have accommodated 5,000 people, or more.

[@giffica]

YES YES YES YES HERE WE GO BABY THE BEST ONE

[@miliba]

So awesome. I a currently playing Civ 6 as Sumeria and my capital is of course Uruk