Mesopotamian religion was central to the people's lives. Humans were created as co-laborers with their gods to hold off the forces of chaos and to keep the world running smoothly. As in ancient Egypt, the gods were honored daily for providing humanity with life and sustenance, and people were expected to give back through works that honored the gods.
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Definition
Timeline
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c. 3500 BCEFirst written evidence of religion in the world recorded on Sumerian tablets.
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c. 2600 BCEThe Myth of Etana written.
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2285 BCE - 2250 BCELife of Enheduanna, daughter of Sargon of Akkad, and world's first author known by name.
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c. 2150 BCE - c. 1400 BCEThe tales of Gilgamesh written which inform The Epic of Gilgamesh
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c. 1900 BCE - c. 1600 BCEComposition of The Descent of Inanna.
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c. 1800 BCEWritten form of the Hymn to Ninkasi, the goddess of beer.
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c. 1700 BCEThe Ludul-Bel-Nimeqi written (known as the Sumerian 'Book of Job').
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c. 1640 BCE - c. 1700 BCEWritten form of the Atrahasis Myth of the Great Flood.
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c. 1300 BCEThe Myth of Adapa appears in written form.
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c. 1100 BCEThe Enuma Elish creation myth written down.