Historically Significant Artifacts from Ancient Mesopotamia

Mesopotamia is often regarded as the cradle of civilization since it is one of the earliest societies known to mankind. Although many discoveries were made by this ancient society, the inventions of the textile mill, the sailboat, and the sundial are the most historically significant artifacts that have established the importance of this ancient civilization throughout history.

The textile mill was first created in 3000 BCE and used to mass- produce different fabrics for large domestic and foreign markets.[1] It was a crucial invention since Mesopotamia was located in an area that lacked natural resources, and trade was the only way this civilization could gain access to these materials.[2] The mill had a profound impact on their lives as it allowed them to produce surplus goods that could be traded for other useful supplies.[3] It was also used by other societies for generations afterwards.[4] Many ancient civilizations thrived on fabric making to help expand their economies, a notable example being Ancient China, where the textile mill was used to make its famed silk. Silk making was kept a state secret for centuries because of the extent to which the Chinese people benefited from its trade with foreign empires. This important invention revolutionized the way textiles are made and continues to benefit societies today just as it did in the past.[5] It is also significant today, where automatized textile mills mean that with the push of a button, large quantities of different fabrics can be mass produced in factories at low costs within a fraction of the time it would have taken ancient civilizations. However, growing consumer demand for cheap goods has resulted in the mass production of low quality items for competitive retailers. These items then contribute to the waste problem that is challenging modern civilization’s priorities. The invention of the textile mill is a historically significant artifact in the ways that it helped Mesopotamia flourish through trade, was used by other civilizations for centuries, and is still a highly relevant invention today.

Another historically significant artifact is the sailboat which was invented in 1300 BC and used by traders to travel along the Tigris and Euphrates rivers.[6] It had a simple design with fixed sails, so people had to wait until the wind blew in the right direction in order to use it for travel.[7] However, it profoundly improved the quality of life in Mesopotamia because it allowed locals to transport their trading goods to other civilizations.[8] Trading was the main reason why this ancient civilization had access to the natural resources that allowed them to build grand structures and make useful tools among other things.[9] After later generations made the sails adjustable, many other civilizations would also use the sailboat to transport their goods and explore the rest of the world.[10] What makes the sailboat a revolutionary innovation is it that it relied on the wind instead of on ores to move across waters and could be used for long distance travel.[11] The sailboat made possible the transportation of heavy loads between long distances.[12] For centuries, this would be the main form of transportation used by merchants to reach their destinations and even empires seeking to conquer distant civilizations.[13] A significant example of how the sailboat was used by colonizers can be discerned from the story of Christopher Columbus who helped to further globalize European rule when he sailed to North America. This was a revolutionary period in time when colonizers displaced native American settlers who had called the continent home for generations. In these ways, the sailboat was a historically significant artifact that made it possible for Mesopotamia to trade with other civilizations, and Europe to expand its empire.

The last most historically significant artifact is the Mesopotamian sundial. Although the exact date of the invention is unknown, experts consider it the oldest clock known to date.[14] The sundial utilized a 24 hour system and measured time using the sun’s shadows. The Mesopotamian peopls used it to determine prayer times and even to chart stars, as their religion was closely linked with astronomy.[15] Regardless of the fact that time could not be measured during winter months or when the sky was not clear, the sundial was an important invention which the Mesopotamian people used to create a yearly calendar.[16] This ancient clock was also used across various other civilizations including in Europe and the Middle East, mainly to determine prayer times.[17] The sundial was used for many centuries and time measurement has become an important aspect of modern life, where everything revolves around the concept of time. The need to keep track of our time has become more important than ever before, as advances in technology have drastically changed the way we live. The sundial was an integral part of Mesopotamian society and other ancient civilizations but what makes it one of the most historically significant artifacts known to man is that it has established the importance of measuring time and thus revolutionized the way we live.

Despite being inventions of an ancient civilization, the textile mill, sailboat, and sundial are inventions that are still relevant in our time and have helped shaped the civilization we live in.

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[1] Fashion Encyclopedia. “Mesopotamian Clothing,” accessed February 20, 2019, http://www.fashionencyclopedia.com/fashion_costume_culture/The-Ancient-World-Mesopotamia/Mesopotamian-Clothing.html.

[2] Rita P. Wright. “Sumerian and Akkadian Industries: Crafting Textiles” in The Sumerian World, ed. H.E.W Crawford (Routledge Press 2013), accessed February 20, 2019, https://www.researchgate.net/publication/259931201_Sumerian_and_Akkadian_Industries_Crafting_Textiles.

[3] Rita P. Wright. “Sumerian and Akkadian Industries: Crafting Textiles” in The Sumerian World, ed. H.E.W Crawford (Routledge Press 2013), accessed February 20, 2019, https://www.researchgate.net/publication/259931201_Sumerian_and_Akkadian_Industries_Crafting_Textiles.

[4] Rita P. Wright. “Sumerian and Akkadian Industries: Crafting Textiles” in The Sumerian World, ed. H.E.W Crawford (Routledge Press 2013), accessed February 20, 2019, https://www.researchgate.net/publication/259931201_Sumerian_and_Akkadian_Industries_Crafting_Textiles.

[5] Rita P. Wright. “Sumerian and Akkadian Industries: Crafting Textiles” in The Sumerian World, ed. H.E.W Crawford (Routledge Press 2013), accessed February 20, 2019, https://www.researchgate.net/publication/259931201_Sumerian_and_Akkadian_Industries_Crafting_Textiles.

[6] Saugat Adhikari. “Top 11 Inventions and Discoveries of Mesopotamia,” last modified November 20, 2019. https://www.ancienthistorylists.com/mesopotamia-history/top-11-inventions-and-discoveries-of-mesopotamia/.

[7] Saugat Adhikari. “Top 11 Inventions and Discoveries of Mesopotamia,” last modified November 20, 2019. https://www.ancienthistorylists.com/mesopotamia-history/top-11-inventions-and-discoveries-of-mesopotamia/.

[8] Bright Hub Engineering. “Ancient Mesopotamian Sailboats: An Introduction,” accessed February 20, 2020, https://www.brighthubengineering.com/marine-history/78133-the-sailboats-of-ancient-mesopotamia/.

[9] Bright Hub Engineering. “Ancient Mesopotamian Sailboats: An Introduction,” accessed February 20, 2020, https://www.brighthubengineering.com/marine-history/78133-the-sailboats-of-ancient-mesopotamia/.

[10] Bright Hub Engineering. “Ancient Mesopotamian Sailboats: An Introduction,” accessed February 20, 2020, https://www.brighthubengineering.com/marine-history/78133-the-sailboats-of-ancient-mesopotamia/.

[11] Bright Hub Engineering. “Ancient Mesopotamian Sailboats: An Introduction,” accessed February 20, 2020, https://www.brighthubengineering.com/marine-history/78133-the-sailboats-of-ancient-mesopotamia/.

[12] Bright Hub Engineering. “Ancient Mesopotamian Sailboats: An Introduction,” accessed February 20, 2020, https://www.brighthubengineering.com/marine-history/78133-the-sailboats-of-ancient-mesopotamia/. [1] Bright Hub Engineering. “Ancient Mesopotamian Sailboats: An Introduction,” accessed February 20, 2020, https://www.brighthubengineering.com/marine-history/78133-the-sailboats-of-ancient-mesopotamia/.

[13] Border Sundials. “History of Sundials,” accessed February 20, 2020, https://www.bordersundials.co.uk/about-sundials/history/.

[14] Border Sundials. “History of Sundials,” accessed February 20, 2020, https://www.bordersundials.co.uk/about-sundials/history/.

[15] Border Sundials. “History of Sundials,” accessed February 20, 2020, https://www.bordersundials.co.uk/about-sundials/history/.

[16] Border Sundials. “History of Sundials,” accessed February 20, 2020, https://www.bordersundials.co.uk/about-sundials/history/.

[17] Border Sundials. “History of Sundials,” accessed February 20, 2020, https://www.bordersundials.co.uk/about-sundials/history/.

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