Uruk: The First Great City

Q: When was Uruk founded?

Uruk was founded c. 5000/4500 BCE.

Q: What is Uruk most famous for?

Uruk is most famous as the city of the king Gilgamesh, but also for a number of cultural developments, including the refining of cuneiform script c. 3200 BCE, which is considered the birth of writing.

Q: Does Uruk still exist today?

In the modern era, the ruins of Uruk are in Warka, Iraq. Uruk is thought to have given rise to the modern name of Iraq.

Q: When and why was Uruk abandoned?

Uruk was abandoned between c. 300 and 700 CE, owing to depletion of resources and its loss of status as a political and commercial power. Some people still lived there, however, as there is evidence of religious rituals still performed after 700 CE.

Joshua J. Mark

Definition

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 circa 5000/4500 BCE. Uruk is best known as the birthplace of writing circa 3200 BCE, as well as for its architecture, the famous exploits of its king Gilgamesh, the invention of the cylinder seal, and other cultural innovations.

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Timeline

c. 6500 BCE - 4000 BCE
The Ubaid period in Sumer.
c. 5400 BCE
The city of Eridu is founded.
c. 5000 BCE - c. 4500 BCE
The city of Uruk founded.
4000 BCE - 3100 BCE
Uruk period in Mesopotamia. First cities.
c. 4000 BCE
Creation at Uruk of first mass-produced bowls.
c. 3600 BCE
Invention of writing in Sumer at Uruk.
c. 3600 BCE - 3500 BCE
First instance of written language in Sumerian.
c. 2900 BCE - c. 2334 BCE
The Early Dynastic period in Sumer.
c. 2600 BCE
Uruk ruled by Gilgamesh for 126 years according to the Sumerian King List.
c. 2119 BCE - c. 2112 BCE
Reign of Utu-Hegal at Uruk in Sumer.
2100 BCE
Ziggurats in use in Sumerian cities of Eridu, Uruk, Ur, Nippur and elsewhere.
1787 BCE
Hammurabi of Babylon conquers Uruk and Isin.

Uruk

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