Presentation Type
Presentation
Faculty Mentor’s Full Name
Ardeshir Kia
Faculty Mentor’s Department
Central and Southwest Asian Studies
Abstract / Artist's Statement
Archaeological evidence indicates that during the 4th millennium BCE ancient Mesopotamia underwent major transformations in its economy, subsistence practices, and sociopolitical organization. I review historical approaches, archaeological studies, translations in cuneiform administrative texts and literature to illuminate the principal role large-scale herding practices played in these structural changes. This research highlights the evolution of pastoralism in ancient Mesopotamia by looking at its pivotal role in the expansion and connectivity of the empire. Moreover, I discuss the importance of pastoralism in the formation of socio-political infrastructure, the interplay between cultic practices and wealth redistribution, as well as its use in consolidating power and identity across the vast regions of Northern and Southern Mesopotamia.
Category
Humanities
Lutz Video File
Inanna the Queen of Heaven and the Rise of Large-Scale Pastoralism in Ancient Mesopotamia
Archaeological evidence indicates that during the 4th millennium BCE ancient Mesopotamia underwent major transformations in its economy, subsistence practices, and sociopolitical organization. I review historical approaches, archaeological studies, translations in cuneiform administrative texts and literature to illuminate the principal role large-scale herding practices played in these structural changes. This research highlights the evolution of pastoralism in ancient Mesopotamia by looking at its pivotal role in the expansion and connectivity of the empire. Moreover, I discuss the importance of pastoralism in the formation of socio-political infrastructure, the interplay between cultic practices and wealth redistribution, as well as its use in consolidating power and identity across the vast regions of Northern and Southern Mesopotamia.