Stephanie Guerin-Yodice

In the Mesopotamian region, nomadic tribes from the north and easterly regions followed migratory patterns that traversed the Taurus and Zagros Mountains, before settling along the water way between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. These tribes brought with them generations of technological innovations that became paramount to the advancement of civilizations.

Over time, nomadic tribes went from hunting and gathering to a semi-sedentary lifestyle where they relied on newly adapted technology to assist in food production. With more effective tools, the hunt became easier and the life expectancy of the hunter increased. Predicting the behavior and cycle of vegetation allowed humans to produce more stable food sources. Small communities started to organize around the successful production of local food sources through the domestication of plants and animals.

This change lead to a more sedentary lifestyle, with temporary dwellings at first, followed eventually by successful agricultural settlements. As these societies grew, they developed new technology, established permanent dwellings and city-states, and became the center of advanced civilizations. Humans’ ability to adapt to the changing world around them facilitated the transformative impact of technological innovations, thus advancing the human experience in ancient Mesopotamia.