DOI: https://doi.org/10.36719/2706-6185/52/22-28
Birja Bayramova
Baku State University
PhD in History
https://orcid.org/0009-0002-9427-6333
birjabayramova@bsu.edu.az
Zahra Mahmudzada
Baku State University
Master student
https://orcid.org/0009-0004-7345-2267
zehramahmudzade@mail.ru
Why Did the Cradle of Civilization Collapse?
Abstract
The Sumerian civilization, the cradle of civilization, is remembered for its numerous discoveries and contributions to human history from 4000 to 2000 BC. The Sumerians built irrigation canals, practiced agriculture, and developed architecture. Why did such a highly developed civilization—the Sumerian—collapse? What factors led to the demise of the Sumerian civilization?
In search of answers to these questions, scholars have turned to various sources. Thus, all scholars confirm that the territory inhabited by the Sumerians was occupied by the Akkadian king Sargon, who created the world’s first empire and brought Mesopotamia under his control. Numerous attacks, in turn, weakened the Sumerian city-states and their culture, leading to their decline.
This article, examining the causes of the collapse of the Sumerian civilization—the cradle of civilization—based on an analysis of articles and sources by various scholars, concludes that the collapse of the Sumerian civilization was not due to a single cause. These ruptures were interconnected ecologically, politically, and economically. The consequences that led to the end of the Sumerian civilization were also examined and analyzed.
Thus, the collapse of the Sumerian civilization taught world history very important lessons: no matter how advanced a society is, it will always have small ruptures.
Keywords: Sumerian Civilization, Cuneiform Writing, Irrigation Systems, Ziggurat, Collapse of Civilization