Uruk was one of the most important cities (at one time, the most important) in ancient Mesopotamia. According to the Sumerian King List, it was founded by King Enmerkar c. 4500 BCE. Uruk is best known as the birthplace of writing c. 3200 BCE as well as for its architecture and other cultural innovations.
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Definition
Timeline
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c. 5400 BCEThe City of Eridu is founded.
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c. 5000 BCESumer inhabited by Ubaid people.
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c. 4500 BCEThe City of Uruk founded.
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4100 BCE - 2900 BCEUruk Period in Mesopotamia. First cities.
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4100 BCE - 2900 BCEUruk Period in Sumer.
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c. 4000 BCECreation at Uruk of first mass-produced bowls.
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c. 3600 BCEInvention of writing in Sumer at Uruk.
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c. 3200 BCEFirst instance of written language in Sumerian.
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2900 BCE - 2334 BCEThe Early Dynastic Period in Sumer.
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c. 2600 BCEUruk ruled by Gilgamesh for 126 years according to the Sumerian King List.
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2100 BCEZiggurats in use in Sumerian cities of Eridu, Uruk, Ur, Nippur and elsewhere
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2100 BCEThe Reign of Utu-Hegal at Uruk in Sumer and creation of Sumerian King List.
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c. 2055 BCE - 2047 BCEUtu Hegal's reign over Sumerian and Akkadian cities.
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2047 BCE - 1750 BCEThe Ur III Period in Sumer. Great Wall of Uruk still standing.
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1787 BCEHammurabi of Babylon conquers Uruk and Isin.
