The chapter “Writing and City Life” from NCERT Class 11 History explores the emergence of urban centers and the development of writing in Mesopotamia, the land between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers (modern-day Iraq). It highlights how these two developments were interconnected and crucial for the growth of civilization.
The chapter emphasizes that cities were not just large populations but centers of economic activities beyond food production, including trade, manufacturing, and services. This specialization led to interdependence among city dwellers and the need for social organization. Trade played a vital role, with Mesopotamia exchanging its agricultural wealth for resources like minerals and wood from other regions. Efficient transport, particularly via waterways, was essential for this exchange.
The development of writing around 3200 BCE is linked to the need for record-keeping in these complex urban societies. While literacy was limited, writing served various purposes, including administrative record-keeping, trade transactions, legal documentation, and even historical narratives. The epic poem about Enmerkar, a ruler of Uruk, illustrates the Mesopotamian understanding of kingship, organizing both trade and writing.
The chapter also touches upon the archaeological discoveries in Mesopotamia, which provide valuable insights into their city life, social structures, and the uses of writing. The growth of temples as central institutions and the role of rulers in organizing resources and labor are also discussed. Furthermore, it briefly examines the urban life in specific cities like Ur and Mari, showcasing different aspects of their development and societal organization.
Exercises
ANSWER IN BRIEF
1. Why do we say that it was not natural fertility and high levels of food production that were the causes of early urbanisation?
Answer: We say that because while fertile land allowed for enough food to support a larger population, it wasn’t the sole driver of early urbanization. Cities emerged as centers of diverse economic activities beyond just farming. Specialization in crafts, trade, and services, along with the need for social organization and resource management, were equally crucial factors that drew people together and fostered urban development. It was the combination of agricultural surplus and these non-agricultural activities that led to early cities, not just food production alone.
2. Which of the following were necessary conditions and which the causes, of early urbanisation, and which would you say were the outcome of the growth of cities: (a) highly productive agriculture, (b) water transport, (c) the lack of metal and stone, (d) the division of labour, (e) the use of seals, (f) the military power of kings that made labour compulsory?
Answer:a) Highly productive agriculture: Surplus food supported non-agricultural populations who could then engage in other activities in urban centers.
(b) Water transport: This was a significant cause. Easy movement of goods and people along waterways facilitated trade and communication, fueling urban growth.
(c) The lack of metal and stone: The need to import these essential resources spurred interaction and the development of trade networks, which often centered around emerging urban areas.
(d) The division of labour: This was both a cause and an outcome. As cities grew, specialization of skills became more pronounced (a cause), and this specialization further intensified as cities developed into centers of diverse activities (an outcome).
(e) The use of seals: Seals were needed to authenticate goods and transactions in a more complex urban economy.
(f) The military power of kings that made labour compulsory: This could be a cause in some instances, where rulers could mobilize labor for large-scale projects that contributed to urban infrastructure and growth. It could also be an outcome, as the concentration of population and resources in cities might have enabled rulers to exert greater control and demand labor.
3.Why were mobile animal herders not necessarily a threat to town life?
Answer:Towns needed the meat, milk, and wool that herders supplied, while herders sometimes traded for the tools or grains produced in towns. This economic give-and-take often made peaceful trade a better option for everyone involved than fighting.
4.Why would the early temple have been much like a house?
Answer:The early Mesopotamian temple truly felt like a home because it was seen as the god’s actual residence. Just as folks had houses, the deity was believed to live right there in the temple. This idea shaped the design, with rooms, an altar like a home shrine, and gathering spots for the community, much like family life. These early temples were simpler and human-sized, making that link between the divine dwelling and a familiar house feel very real to those who worshipped there.
ANSWER IN A SHORT ESSAY
5. Of the new institutions that came into being once city life had begun, which would have depended on the initiative of the king?
Answer:The king was absolutely central to getting big things done in early Mesopotamian city life. Think of it this way:
- Mega projects? King’s call. Those vital irrigation canals, grand temples, and strong city walls? They needed serious organization, tons of people working together, and loads of materials – all things the king would have directed.
- Trade rules? King’s rules. As cities buzzed with buying and selling, someone had to make sure things were fair, keep track of weights, and maybe even strike deals with other lands for stuff Mesopotamia needed. That “someone” was likely the king.
- Keeping the peace? King’s job. With more people living close together, you need rules. The king would have been the one setting those rules, settling arguments, and making sure everyone behaved (or faced the consequences!).
Basically, if it was big, involved lots of people or resources, or needed someone in charge, you could bet the king was a key player in making it happen.
6. What do ancient stories tell us about the civilisation of Mesopotamia
Answer:the chapter “Writing and City Life” from NCERT Class 11 History explores the emergence of urban centers and the development of writing in Mesopotamia, the land between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers (modern-day Iraq). It highlights how these two developments were interconnected and crucial for the growth of civilization.
The chapter emphasizes that cities were not just large populations but centers of economic activities beyond food production, including trade, manufacturing, and services. This specialization led to interdependence among city dwellers and the need for social organization. Trade played a vital role, with Mesopotamia exchanging its agricultural wealth for resources like minerals and wood from other regions. Efficient transport, particularly via waterways, was essential for this exchange.
The development of writing around 3200 BCE is linked to the need for record-keeping in these complex urban societies. While literacy was limited, writing served various purposes, including administrative record-keeping, trade transactions, legal documentation, and even historical narratives.
The chapter also touches upon the archaeological discoveries in Mesopotamia, which provide valuable insights into their city life, social structures, and the uses of writing. The growth of temples as central institutions and the role of rulers in organizing resources and labor are also discussed. Furthermore, it briefly examines the urban life in specific cities like Ur and Mari, showcasing different aspects of their development and societal organization.
