Sumer, Mesopotamia.
Between the Euphrates and Tigris Rivers.
Modern Iraq south of the Hajarah desert.
4000BC - One of the fist village settlements, by the Ubaidian inhabitants of Sumer.
2800BC - (or before) One of the most prosperous Sumerian city states.
From this time to 1730BC the area is ruled by a number of city states and dynasties.
2670BC - 1st dynasty of Ur. Ruled by Mesanepada. The earliest described ruler.
2650BC - His son, Amerada, succeeds him. He builds a temple to the goddess Ninhursag.
2600BC - The royal cemetery dates from this time.
2340BC - 1st dynasty ends after defeat by Sargon of Akkad.
2113BC - 2095BC
Ur-Nammu of Uruk becomes the first king of the 3rd dynasty of Ur.
He revives the sumerian empire.
Ur gains control of a sea outlet (on what is now the Persian Gulf).
Improved irrigation.
The Code of Ur-Nammu.
Ur becomes the most powerful city in Mesopotamia.
Renaissance of Sumerian art and literature at Ur.
2095BC - 2047BC
His son, Shulgi, succeeds him.
Both are responsible for building the ziggurat to Nanna (2100BC),
and further temples in Ur and other sumerian cities.
Their descendents continue to rule until 2004bc.
Ziggurat
2018BC - The Sumerian empire disintergrates.
2004BC - The Elamites capture Ibbi-Sin, King of Ur, and destroy the city.
City rebuilt shortly afterwards.
1900BC - Book of Genesis describes Ur as the starting point for migration to Palestine for the family of Abraham.
1900BC - (about) Becomes part of kingdom of Isin.
1800BC - (about) Becomes part of kingdom of Larsa.
1763BC - Ur is incorporated into Babylonia following the defeat of Larsa.
1600BC - (about) During the Kassite rule of Babylonia Ur remains an important religious centre.
900BC - Chaldeans settle in the area (mesopotamia).
Ur of the Chaldeans - biblical reference.
730BC - Provincial capital during the Assyrian rule of Babylonia.
620BC - Chaldean dynasty established at Babylon.
605BC - Nebuchadnezzar 2nd, the Chaldean King of Babylonia, starts a new period of building at Ur.
556BC - 539BC
Last Babylonian King - Nabonidus.
His eldest daughter is high priestess at Ur.
The Ziggurat to Nanna is remodelled and rivals the temple of Marduk in
Babylon.
Babylon comes under the control of Persia and Ur declines.
400BC - Ur practically forgotten - possibly due to a shift in course of the Euphrates river.
2030BC-1980BC
Ur considered to be the largest city in the world with a population of 65000 people.
Social stratification 1
Religion and the Priesthood 1 2 3
Centre of worship for the moon god Nanna - Babylonian equivalent, Sin.
The Ziggurat for this deity is 21M 70FT high.
Ur often regarded as a religious centre.
Irrigation
Waterways
Mortar
Brick moulds
Bitumen (waterproofing)(mortar)(bricks)
Arches
Stonework
Building
Law - The Code of Ur-Nammu
Cuneiform
A shortage of stone for building, and wood for firing
meant the sustained use of sun dried mud bricks.