Most of the knowledge we have about Mesopotamia comes from clay or stone tablets with cuneiform writing, although the first were written before 3000 BC, most come from 2500 BC onwards.These documents include: c artas, narratives, business contracts and memoranda, as well as religious and scientific records .They are so well preserved and are so numerous that they potentially offer us detailed knowledge of the environment in which they were written, sometimes they provide us with more details than the knowledge available for more recent periods of universal history.That is why we want to bring you the knowledge that ancient civilizations had in different branches of science , especially in Mesopotamia.
Science in Mesopotamia | First Signs
Evidence of the use of characteristic record systems in the form of raw clay tablets, without baking, marked with primitive numerals, which constituted administrative records prior to the introduction of the writing itself.This evidence was found both in northern Mesopotamia, and on the Iran plateau.
It is unknown precisely where the system was developed , but it is apparent that it prevailed widely prevailing over cultural differences local.
The different nations that populated the region in successive periods sustained trade with other areas, exchanging species, jewels and silks from the east, for minerals or wood from the west. This international trade depended on recognition by all s, of units of weight, volume, area and length.
The concept of currency as an exchange element may have emerged in Mesopotamia, where metal bars with a mark indicating their weight were used.
Among all its glory titles, Mesopotamia can take pride in being the country where writing was born .Mesopotamian writing, known as cuneiform , was done on clay tablets.
The symbols were inscribed by pressing on the fresh clay a square-pointed punch , however, at the beginning of the Sumerian writing (c.3000 BC) the numerals were engraved with a different instrument, with rounded ends, one long and the other small, probably a splinter of wood or cane, which was widely used due to its abundance.
Science in Mesopotamia | Math
The Sumerians used the sexagesimal system , which is based on the number 60 , but there were individual symbols for 36,000, 3,600,600 , 60 and 10. In the late Sumerian period (c.2500-2000 BC), the numerals , as well as other written symbols, were made with an instrument square, so they had to change the original rounded graphical representation for some numerals to the rhomboidal form.
In the Babylonian script , c.2000 BC-75, we find a different system of representation of numbers, both the old sexagesimal system, still used in astronomy and mathematics, and the system decimal, used on a daily basis for trade and accounting.
From the point of view of writing there was actually ad two numbering systems, the one that was normally used and that had special signs for each order of units and the "learned" system that was unique, that was used in mathematical texts, which was only sexagesimal and positional as our decimal system.And like this one, this allowed great flexibility in the writing of numbers, which was highly favorable for the development of mathematics.
It should be mentioned that with this system they could add and subtract, but not multiply and to divide, but in order to do so they invented the first multiplication and division tables.Later, they also developed tables for square and cubic roots .
The use of number 0 speaks of an important development in abstract mathematics , something that not all ancient civilizations knew.His numerical notation was quite flexible, because the figures contained within the same number could take value according to their position.
By very empirical methods they had managed to make extensive tables that they had to allow the solution of different very simplified operations today, such as multiplications and divisions, squared and cubed elevations, or converting according to the units of measurement used. They could even develop equations of second grade.
The school math texts that have reached us are of two types: tables and problems , the former include tabulations of reciprocals, multiplications, squares and square roots, cubes and cubic roots, the sums of squares and cubes necessary for the numerical solution of certain types of equations, exponential functions, coefficients giving numbers for practical computations and numerics Bears metrological calculations giving the area of rectangles, circles and others.
The problem texts deal with Pythagorean numbers, cubic roots, equations and practical problems, such as the excavation of canals or their extension, the counting of the bricks used in construction, etc.We must point out the fact that most of the problem texts that have been discovered are of Akkadio origin, however, they must rely on prototype texts of the Sumerians, since almost all the technical terms used are Sumerian.
Science in Mesopotamia | Astronomy
The Babylonians laid the mathematical foundations, without which there can be no scientific astronomy, and began the long series of observations, without which further generalizations would have been impossible, using the high constructions known as Ziggurats. They were familiar with a simple sundial shape, with a kind of clepsydra and used the poles, which were "instrument specifically mesopotamico that used to know with precision the movements of the Sun ".
MAP OF THE BABYLON SKY
Astronomers were priests totally linked to political power.The observations were an act of religiosity, of reverence to the divinities that inhabited the sky, for this reason the care and rigorous methodology with which they kept their records is explained-The preservation of astronomical records was almost a sacred duty.Assyrian culture towards the rational speculation so developed in Greece by natural philosophers, was impossible in Babylon.
They studied the path that the Moon describes in the sky and detailed its cyclical movement with the object of predicting the fearsome eclipses , those events that had the power to make the Moon disappear, and that, according to their beliefs, could make it disappear along with her, to all her empire.Here is the practical importance of knowing how to predict these astronomical events with complete accuracy.
Prediction of Eclipses
The Babylonians had no idea why these events happened, they were not really interested in why, for their purposes they just needed to predict the moment when the phenomenon would occur.
Also methodically recorded dates and the duration of earthquakes, locust pests and other natural disasters in order to determine if there were any repeated cycles or analogies in these events, as observed in the heaven with the regularities of astronomical events so that fortune tellers could predict them, just as had learned to predict with lunar eclipses.
Paths in heaven
But one of his most amazing achievements was, the invention of the Zodiac .For a long time and with absolute regularity, observed the path that the Sun, the Moon and the planets traveled in the sky, on the bottom of the "fixed star". They divided that path into 12 equal parts of an extension of 30º each, calling it constellations.
Each constellation is a sign or house inhabited by animals with their own characteristics and the power to influence people, their property and their lives.
That influence is determined by the position that the Sun, the Moon and the planets occupy at a certain moment in their path around the constellations, mistakenly considered "fixed stars" , so that if a person is born when the Sun "passes" through Aries will have his life marked by the typical characteristics generated by that astronomical event.
Ade but, observing the sky, elaborated numerous celestial catalogs, where the stars appeared with their relative distances.
But it was to obtain a determination and measurement of time that more important observations were gradually made based on the movements of the Moon and the planets .
They related the lunar calendar with their phases and cycles with the course of the seasons, regulated according to the course of the Sun , the determination of the ecliptic (that is, the apparent orbit of the Sun).
Thus, they managed to determine the duration of the solar year with four minutes of difference; that is, the time necessary for the Sun (its apparent movement) to move along the ecliptic and return to a given point.
The Mesopotamians, also established an exact relationship between the eclipses of Luna and knew that they belonged to a system whose periodicity was approximately 18 years. In addition, they calculated the positions of Mercury for all times, whether or not their "apparitions" were visible.
They represented the Earth as a disk that had a large mountain massif in the center .Around the Earth there was an ocean, surrounded on the outside by a system of mountains that supported the celestial vault.
Science in Mesopotamia | Medicine
The judgments established on the value of mesopotamic medicine are often determined by the fact that this discipline was sometimes confused with the techniques and practices of magic .
According to the tradition , every disease was an effect of the divine will to hurt the sinner. Therefore, to know what was wrong and identify the god who had produced it, the doctor was used, who drove out the demons that caused all evil.
MEDICAL INSTRUMENTAL REPRESENTATION
In these disciplines, the most developed by the mesopotamics , efforts were not usually proposed but results effective, without formulating too abstract principles.
Whatever the phenomena that could worrying the Mesopotamian man, he was always convinced that the gods manifested themselves through those appearances and that it was these gods who caused suffering in the sick.
For this culture, true science was made up of enormous divination complications that established the correspondences between the divine will and its symbolic expression in the world of men.
However, with the passage of time the civilization of Mesopotamia also began to acquire great knowledge of human anatomy , reflected in the Book of medical diagnosis and prognosis (written at the end of the second millennium BC).At the same time, it was also one of the first civilizations to develop the first and rudimentary surgical instruments.
Science in Mesopotamia | Technology
Some of the most important technological achievements of the Sumerians are related to irrigation and agriculture .The construction of an intricate system of canals, dikes, gates and water tanks , demanded knowledge and engineering skills.
The demarcation of land and the preparation of construction plans , implied the use of leveling instruments, measuring rods, drawing and mapping. Agriculture had also become a complicated and methodical technique that required foresight, diligence and skills.
We are not surprised therefore find that the Sumerian pedagogues have compiled a "Farmer's Almanac", which consisted of a series of instructions to guide farmers through its annual activities , starting with the flooding of the fields in May-June , and ending with the agitation and cleaning of freshly harvested grain crops, in April-May of the following year.
The main cereals grown by the Sumerians were barley (the most important, since they prepared beer with it), wheat and millet.Also varied vegetables such as peas, lentils, carobs, onions, garlic, lettuce, turnips, watercress, pores, mustard and various varieties of cucumbers.
They used belts to protect the gardens from the sun's effect that withered the plants and the desiccant winds. They used in agriculture the hoe and the rake , and there was a garden rake.date palm from which they took the lal, a honey. They knew the artificial fertilization of female palms and as of the second millennium there is a Sumerian lexicographical list containing almost 150 words that described the different palms they knew and their We also found almost 200 Sumerian words to describe the different types and varieties of sheep they raised.
Science in Mesopotamia | Units of measurement in Mesopotamia
One of the great advances by which the Sumerians stood out was for their ability to measure distances, areas, weights and all kinds of variables through their own system sexagesimal.Today it seems something totally normal, almost like looking at the time, but they were one of the civilizations that allowed knowledge like this to be extended.
The inhabitants of Mesopotamia not only devised measures to calculate the length, but also to calculate the surface area .In the units of measurement of Mesopotamia, a Sar is currently equivalent to 36 m2.Sar equals 1 Iku and 1,800 Iku to I Bur.
Trade also developed a lot in Mesopotamia, so a system to calculate the weight of objects began to be necessary or live when making the transactions.From this a system of measurement of weights is derived.The smallest unit would be the Gin, about 8 grams.One morning would be the equivalent of 60 Gin, that is 480 grams.And 60 Ma-na was equal to a Glu, about 2.8 Kilograms.
Finally, we have to refer to the measures of capacity .In the Sumerian system 1 Sila was equivalent to 0 , 82 liters.10 Sila were equal to 1 Ban, 8.2 Kg.For larger quantities the Nigida (49 liters) or the Gur (246 liters) were used.
Of course, the different villages who occupied Mesopotamia throughout the centuries, established a flourishing commercial activity with other peoples and cultures, so that the knowledge of these units of measurement was basic to be able to carry out trade and trade.
In short, Mesopotamia was a region that had a very prominent culture and was a pioneer in many aspects of science, such as astrology, and was also one of the first civilizations that I elaborate writings and even true encyclopedias about his knowledge so that his history and his science, to some extent, has been discovered through the study of his remains.
For all this and much more it is for what Mesopotamia is known as the "cradle of civilization" and that's why so many other civilizations have been based on their knowledge throughout history.Now we leave you with a video about this pioneering civilization.
Science in Mesopotamia | Other Information of Interest
The men of ancient Mesopotamia truly developed a mathematics and astronomy, constituted an authentic medicine and knew how to elaborate a thought that deserves the name of science.Do you want to know more about the science in Mesopotamia ? Do not miss the following article in History Today Online.
The beginning of the Mesopotamian civilization dates back to 4,000 BC a civilization that developed rapidly under the protection of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers.By the middle of the third millennium they already knew how to use metals, and their civilization was respected, when not admired, by other great civilizations such as Egypt and Greece.
Among the many contributions they made to humanity is the same writing It is thanks to the invention of the cuneiform writing and the study of the clay tablets so you can know much more in detail such as society, religion, commerce and life in general in those times.
Espores, goddess of agri Culture
Many times historians hesitate to consider as scientific the compilation works in which Mesopotamians accumulated numerous knowledge, such as mineral or vegetable lists, that could hardly be considered as a first stage in the formation of natural sciences.
In Mesopotamia the first written "texts" on various related scientific aspects were collected with medicine, astronomy or mathematics.
Currency Mesopotamia
In Mesopotamia all the information that Sumerians or Babylonians had developed was collected.All the information was collected and lists related to various aspects of life and life were prepared.science, like gods, chronologies, units of measure, etc.
Many of these lists are collected in the Archaic books of Uruk , which are considered one of the first scientific texts in history, but let's look at various aspects of science in Mesopotamia to better check how far ahead it was this time civilization and the great advances they made.
Science in Mesopotamia | Video about Mesopotamia
If you want to know more about this fascinating civilization, not only of its science but of many more aspects, check out the following video:
Science in Mesopotamia | Related articles
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