Episode Summary: "The World's First City" (Episode 519) | The Rest Is History

Release Date: December 5, 2024
Hosts: Tom Holland, Dominic Sandbrook, and Nadia Yada

Introduction to Uruk: The Birthplace of Urban Civilization

In Episode 519 of The Rest Is History, hosts Tom Holland, Dominic Sandbrook, and Nadia Yada delve into the enigmatic origins and profound significance of Uruk, often hailed as the world's first city. This episode explores how Uruk not only laid the foundation for urbanism but also fundamentally transformed human society.

Exploring the Ruins of Waka: A Historical Enigma

The episode opens with a discussion of Sir William Loftus's observations of Waka—a site in southern Mesopotamia described as "the most desolate spot that he had ever visited" (02:11). Nadia Yada elaborates on Waka's transformation from a Persian Empire frontier post to a site of intense archaeological interest, comparable to the grandeur of Babylon and Nineveh.

Dominic Sandbrook (02:11): "What it reminds me of is Stonehenge, which is built much later, but a similar process of a site that is clearly very holy, not just to locals, but to people from far across Britain."

Uruk: The Inception of Urban Complexity

Uruk's emergence is positioned as a pivotal moment in human history, marking the transition from nomadic lifestyles to complex urban societies. Nadia Yada highlights Uruk's impressive infrastructure—enormous canals, irrigation systems, and monumental architecture—that signaled the dawn of urbanism.

Nadia Yada (09:20): "This is where urbanism begins. This is where the story that culminates in the city we're in now, New York. This is where it starts."

The Fertile Crescent and the Rise of Agriculture

The hosts provide context on the Fertile Crescent, emphasizing its diverse ecosystems that supported the domestication of crops and animals. Nadia Yada draws parallels between the agricultural advancements in Mesopotamia and the eventual rise of cities like Jericho and Catal Hüyük, underscoring why Uruk thrived where others did not.

Nadia Yada (11:34): "The Fertile Crescent is part of the Fertile Crescent, but the Fertile Crescent consists of more than Mesopotamia... Which makes it the most obvious place for agriculture to start."

Mythology and Archaeology: The Role of Inanna and Anu

A significant portion of the episode examines the intertwining of religion and urban development in Uruk. Nadia Yada recounts the Mesopotamian myths where the goddess Inanna plays a critical role in disseminating knowledge, fostering the growth of Uruk's temples, and embedding urbanization within spiritual frameworks.

Nadia Yada (24:34): "These [temples] are like the temple to Enki on Eridu, that they are constantly being built and rebuilt and rebuilt... resulting in architecture on an absolutely unprecedentedly monumental scale."

Technological Innovations: Writing, the Wheel, and Domestication

The discussion shifts to Uruk's groundbreaking technological advancements, particularly the invention of writing (cuneiform) and the domestication of the donkey. These innovations not only streamlined administration and trade but also spurred further societal complexity.

Nadia Yada (38:22): "Uruk's potency is most vividly displayed in the dimension of software rather than hardware."

The Dark Side of Urbanization: Slavery and Social Stratification

The episode does not shy away from the darker aspects of Uruk's legacy. Hosts discuss the emergence of slavery and the exploitation of labor as integral components of urban complexity. Nadia Yada references ancient tablets that record slave ownership, highlighting how early cities like Uruk institutionalized social hierarchies and human exploitation.

Nadia Yada (43:15): "Al Ghaze sums this up brilliantly and very sinisterly. 'Early Near Eastern villagers domesticated plants and animals. Uruk's urban institutions, in turn, domesticated humans.'"

Uruk's Decline and Enduring Legacy

The narrative concludes with Uruk's eventual decline, marked by conquests such as those by Sargon of Akkad, which led to the city's suppression and the overshadowing of its monumental beginnings. However, the cultural and technological advancements of Uruk continued to influence subsequent civilizations, as evidenced by references in epic literature like Gilgamesh.

Nadia Yada (33:34): "Uruk is the prototype not just of a civilization like Rome or China, but of civilization itself. There has been nothing like it ever."

Reflections on Urbanism and Humanity

In closing, the hosts reflect on how the inception of cities like Uruk fundamentally altered human society, laying the groundwork for modern urban life. They draw an analogy between Uruk's innovations and contemporary advancements such as artificial intelligence, emphasizing how foundational urbanization is to the evolution of human cognition and social structures.

Nadia Yada (34:31): "The city is kind of like an enormous brain, a collective brain. The existence of this brain kind of requires new ways of thinking, but it also generates new ways of thinking."

Conclusion

Episode 519 offers a comprehensive exploration of Uruk's pivotal role in human history, meticulously blending archaeological evidence with mythological narratives to paint a vivid picture of the world's first city. The discussion underscores both the awe-inspiring advancements and the inherent societal challenges that accompanied the birth of urban civilization.

Notable Quotes

• Dominic Sandbrook (02:11): "So it's a place so full of mystery that you might say that this is one of the great mysteries in the entire story of human history."

• Nadia Yada (09:20): "This is where urbanism begins."

• Nadia Yada (24:34): "These are like the temple to Enki on Eridu, that they are constantly being built and rebuilt and rebuilt."

• Tom Holland (33:34): "You've compared it in your notes to AI. So an absolute game changer."

• Nadia Yada (34:31): "The city is kind of like an enormous brain, a collective brain."

Timestamp Reference Guide

• [02:11]: Introduction to Waka and its historical significance.
• [09:20]: Uruk as the inception point of urbanism.
• [11:34]: Contextualizing Uruk within the Fertile Crescent.
• [24:34]: The role of Inanna and Anu in Uruk's development.
• [38:22]: Uruk's technological advancements.
• [43:15]: Discussion on slavery and social stratification.
• [33:34]: Uruk's legacy compared to other civilizations.
• [34:31]: Reflections on urbanism's impact on human cognition.

Note: Timestamps correspond to the transcript segments for precise reference.