The Uruk world system : the dynamics of expansion of early Mesopotamian civilization

University of Chicago Press, 1993. — 162 pp. — ISBN 0-226-01381-2. Archaeologists and historians have long been keenly interested in the emergence of early cities and states in the ancient Near East, particularly in the growth of early Sumerian civilization in the lowlands of Mesopotamia during the second half of the fourth millennium B.C. Most scholars have focused on the internal transformations attending this process, such as the development of new forms of spatial organization, socio-political relationships, and economic arrangements. In The Uruk World System , Guillermo Algaze concentrates instead on the unprecedented and wide-ranging process of external expansion that coincided with the rapid initial crystallization of Mesopotamian civilization. He contends that the rise of early Sumerian polities cannot be understood without also taking into account developments in surrounding peripheral areas. Algaze reviews an extensive body of archaeological evidence for cross-cultural exchange between the nascent city-states in the Mesopotamian lowlands and communities in immediately surrounding areas. He shows that at their very inception the more highly integrated lowland centers succeeded in establishing a variety of isolated, far-flung outposts in areas at the periphery of the Mesopotamian lowlands. Embedded in an alien hinterland characterized by demonstrably less complex societies, the outposts were commonly established at the apex of preexisting regional settlement hierarchies and invariably at focal nodes astride important trade routes. Algaze argues that these early colonial out-posts served as collection points for coveted peripheral resources acquired in exchange for core manufactures and that they reflect an inherently asymmetrical system of economic hegemony that extended far beyond areas under the direct political control of Sumerian polities in southern Mesopotamia. From this he concludes that economic exploitation of less developed peripheral areas was integral to the earliest development of civilization in the ancient Near East. Introduction. Uruk sites in the Susiana plain of Khuzestan. Uruk settlements in the Syro-Mesopotamian plains and surrounding highlands. The function of Uruk settlements in the Syro-Mesopotamian plains and surrounding highlands. The late Chalcolithic period in Syro-Mesopotamia. Social change in the northern periphery and the collapse of the Uruk expansion. Conclusions. Archaeologists And Historians Have Long Been Keenly Interested In The Emergence Of Early Cities And States In The Ancient Near East, Particularly In The Growth Of Early Sumerian Civilization In The Lowlands Of Mesopotamia During The Second Half Of The Fourth Millennium B.c. Most Scholars Have Focused On The Internal Transformations Attending This Process, Such As The Development Of New Forms Of Spatial Organization, Socio-political Relationships, And Economic Arrangements. In The Uruk World System, Guillermo Algaze Concentrates Instead On The Unprecedented And Wide-ranging Process Of External Expansion That Coincided With The Rapid Initial Crystallization Of Mesopotamian Civilization. He Contends That The Rise Of Early Sumerian Polities Cannot Be Understood Without Also Taking Into Account Developments In Surrounding Peripheral Areas.^ Algaze Reviews An Extensive Body Of Archaeological Evidence For Cross-cultural Exchange Between The Nascent City-states In The Mesopotamian Lowlands And Communities In Immediately Surrounding Areas. He Shows That At Their Very Inception The More Highly Integrated Lowland Centers Succeeded In Establishing A Variety Of Isolated, Far-flung Outposts In Areas At The Periphery Of The Mesopotamian Lowlands. Embedded In An Alien Hinterland Characterized By Demonstrably Less Complex Societies, The Outposts Were Commonly Established At The Apex Of Preexisting Regional Settlement Hierarchies And Invariably At Focal Nodes Astride Important Trade Routes. Algaze Argues That These Early Colonial Out-posts Served As Collection Points For Coveted Peripheral Resources Acquired In Exchange For Core Manufactures And That They Reflect An Inherently Asymmetrical System Of Economic Hegemony That Extended Far Beyond Areas Under The Direct Political Control Of Sumerian Polities In Southern Mesopotamia.^ From This He Concludes That Economic Exploitation Of Less Developed Peripheral Areas Was Integral To The Earliest Development Of Civilization In The Ancient Near East. However, The Early Mesopotamian Outposts Did Not Endure Long. They Either Collapsed Or Were Withdrawn By The End Of The Fourth Millennium B.c. According To Algaze, This Is Explained, In Part, By The Impact That The Outposts Had On The Sociopolitical Evolution Of Peripheral Societies. He Argues That The Cross-cultural Contacts Initiated By The Intrusions Would Have Led To An Initial Strengthening Of Local Chiefs, So That In Some Cases Local Communities Soon Became Expansive In Their Own Right. This Unintended Consequence Would Have Required Core Polities Either To Arrive At More Formal (political And Military) Modes Of Domination Or, Alternately, To Abandon The Periphery Altogether, Ceding Control Of Trade Routes To The Newly Emerging Local Powers.^ In Light Of Transportational And Organizational Constraints Common To Societies At The Dawn Of Civilization, The Latter Appears To Have Been The Case. 1. Introduction. A Supraregional Perspective. Resource Procurement Strategies And Their Impact. Momentum Toward Empire In The Uruk Period. A Conceptual Framework For The Analysis Of The Evidence -- 2. Uruk Sites In The Susiana Plain Of Khuzestan. Geographical Framework. Mesopotamian Colonization. Chronology And Conclusions -- 3. Uruk Settlements In The Syro-mesopotamian Plains And Surrounding Highlands. Geographical Framework. Uruk Enclaves In Syro-mesopotamia. The Strategic Rationale Of Uruk Settlement In Syro-mesopotamia. Uruk Outposts In The Periphery. The Chronology Of Uruk Settlement In The Periphery -- 4. The Function Of Uruk Settlements In The Syro-mesopotamian Plains And Surrounding Highlands. Gateway Communities. Uruk Materials In The Surrounding Piedmont And Highlands. Uruk Materials In The Syro-mesopotamian Plains. The Commodities Exchanged -- 5. The Late Chalcolithic Period In Syro-mesopotamia. Chronology. Late Chalcolithic Culture And Social Integration. Relations Between Uruk Enclaves And Indigenous Communities -- 6. Social Change In The Northern Periphery And The Collapse Of The Uruk Expansion. The Impact On Indigenous Societies. The Collapse Of The Uruk Enclave Network. Early Bronze Age Sociopolitical Development In The Periphery -- 7. Conclusions. The View From The Periphery: Informal Empire In The Uruk Period. The View From The Core: A World System Of The Uruk Period. The Context Of Expansion. Outstanding Problems And Suggestions For Further Research. Theoretical Reprise And Cross-cultural Parallels. Guillermo Algaze. Revision Of Thesis (ph. D.--university Of Chicago, 1986). Includes Bibliographical References (p. [139]-156) And Index. University of Chicago Press, 1993. — 162 pp. — ISBN 0-226-01381-2.Archaeologists and historians have long been keenly interested in the emergence of early cities and states in the ancient Near East, particularly in the growth of early Sumerian civilization in the lowlands of Mesopotamia during the second half of the fourth millennium B.C. Most scholars have focused on the internal transformations attending this process, such as the development of new forms of spatial organization, socio-political relationships, and economic arrangements.In __The Uruk World System__, Guillermo Algaze concentrates instead on the unprecedented and wide-ranging process of external expansion that coincided with the rapid initial crystallization of Mesopotamian civilization. He contends that the rise of early Sumerian polities cannot be understood without also taking into account developments in surrounding peripheral areas.Algaze reviews an extensive body of archaeological evidence for cross-cultural exchange between the nascent city-states in the Mesopotamian lowlands and communities in immediately surrounding areas. He shows that at their very inception the more highly integrated lowland centers succeeded in establishing a variety of isolated, far-flung outposts in areas at the periphery of the Mesopotamian lowlands. Embedded in an alien hinterland characterized by demonstrably less complex societies, the outposts were commonly established at the apex of preexisting regional settlement hierarchies and invariably at focal nodes astride important trade routes. Algaze argues that these early colonial out-posts served as collection points for coveted peripheral resources acquired in exchange for core manufactures and that they reflect an inherently asymmetrical system of economic hegemony that extended far beyond areas under the direct political control of Sumerian polities in southern Mesopotamia. From this he concludes that economic exploitation of less developed peripheral areas was integral to the earliest development of civilization in the ancient Near East. Introduction.Uruk sites in the Susiana plain of Khuzestan.Uruk settlements in the Syro-Mesopotamian plains and surrounding highlands.The function of Uruk settlements in the Syro-Mesopotamian plains and surrounding highlands.The late Chalcolithic period in Syro-Mesopotamia.Social change in the northern periphery and the collapse of the Uruk expansion.Conclusions.