Sumerian civilization Beginnings of the first civilizations Three earliest civilizations: in Egypt, Sumer (known as Mesopotamia, modern Iraq) and in the Indus valley (modern Pakistan) came into existence in the fourth millennium BC. It is surprising that all three originated in very similar climatic and geographical conditions. These are practically semi desert areas, across which flow big rivers - the Nile in Egypt, the Euphrates and Tigris in the Sumer and the Indus in Pakistan. These areas, having high yearly average air temperature and small rainfall Rainfall in these regions of Pakistan and Iraq is below 250 mm, and in Egypt is below 100 mm per year.., were not suitable for efficient agriculture. Nonetheless in the run-up to the development of these civilizations the local population was occupied with farming and fishery, and lived in very modest, primitive conditions. As a result of the development of new civilizations, in a very short span of time, in these areas cities come into existence with wonderful temples, with developed trade, with humanitarian laws, and most importantly with a very productive agriculture providing everyone with sufficient amount of food. The arising of civilizations just on large rivers could be linked to drastic climatic changes The latest climate and archaeological research results show that the climate in the northern hemisphere changed rapidly as a result of the change of the inclination of the Earth axis from 24.14º at 9000 years ago to 23.45º at present, and the changes to the Earth orbit around the Sun. This caused significant reduction in the rainfall in the region of Sahara and the Arab Peninsula changing them into deserts. which occurred in the fourth millennium BC. On the account of a constantly reducing amount of rain many areas, lying on certain latitudes such as Sahara, changed into deserts. About 3500 years BC a great drop of rainfall was also recorded in Egypt. So the big rivers ensured constant and reliable water supply, without which obviously no civilization could come into existence and could grow. Egyptian civilization Pre-dynastic period According to the latest archaeological research, in Egypt there are distinguished three pre-dynastic stages of development: Naqada I (4400-3500 BC), Naqada II (3500-3200 BC), and Naqada III (3200-3000 BC). Naqada I represents a typical primitive Neolithic culture, of which the biggest achievements were : simple painted pottery, clay figurines, combs made of ivory, stone vessels and maces. Settlements consisted of houses made of mud, 1-2 m in diameter. The deceased were buried straight in a pit in graveyards. During the short period of Naqada II we witness in Upper Egypt accelerated development of civilization. New decorated ceramics came into existence, especially large jars with lug handles reminiscent of Mesopotamian pottery, copper tools and products made from gold and silver. The ways of burying the dead were changed which is visible in the tombs of rulers containing many expensive objects. Well developed trade existed with Sumer and Palestine which is confirmed by many objects of Sumerian origins found in the burials. The country consisted of independent princedoms ruled by local masters, belonging to the so-called dynasty ‘00’. It is possible that in this period about 20 independent city-states were created A list was discovered of first principalities corresponding to the later administrative regions in the united Egypt. Archaeological research confirms existence of 4 independent city-states: Hierakonpolis, Elkab, Abydos and Naqada.. The period of Naqada III is a continuation of Naqada II and is characterised by the further rapid development of the civilization, confirmed by such discoveries, as the first graphical inscriptions on palettes, the first hieroglyphs, the first royal cemeteries and sculptures of lions found at the Koptos temple. Richly endowed tombs of about 15 rulers belonging to the so-called dynasty ‘0’ were also identified. In this period the first irrigating systems were introduced. This period culminated in the unification by the pharaoh Narmer, (in Greek, Menes) of the Upper and the Lower Egypt. It took place about 3100 BC From this event starts the dynastic history of Egypt. This united country, in spite of many wars, internal struggles and fights, and conquests by the barbaric tribes survived for almost 3000 years. The Egypt independence ends after the conquest by Alexander the Great and with the establishing the Ptolemaic Dynasty in 332 BC New hypothesis of the genesis of civilization Why the first civilizations came into existence at all and what was the driving force behind this huge step in the development of mankind? In order to understand why the first civilizations came into existence, first we have to closely examine conditions in which people lived before this event. Life of the primitive societies In some areas of the Middle East about 9000 years BC, there already existed human agriculture settlements. The Neolithic societies were characterised by a settled way of life and ability to cultivate soil and to produce basic primitive tools. The first large agricultural communities originated from before 7500 BC in the present Iran and Iraq. To the most important belongs a settlement discovered in Çatal Hüyük, in Turkish Anatolia, covering an area of about 60 acres which was inhabited in 6500 BC by about 6000 people. The one-storey houses discovered there did not have doors or windows, and the entrance was located on the roof. The city did not have streets, and the houses were connected with each other enabling easy passage for people. The life of the Neolithic society earning its living off the land was dominated by fear originating from the uncertain future. Above all people were afraid of a crop failure which meant death from starvation. These societies were almost completely dependent on the vicissitudes of nature, which laws they did not understand. Therefore they developed primitive rituals and ceremonies helping, in their belief, to bring a rainfall or ensuring sufficient crops. These beliefs are confirmed by the discoveries of a large number of woman clay figurines which were associated with the fertility worship and with the rites ensuring a good harvest. Their gods resembled a man, however they were regarded as being all powerful Anthropomorphic gods existed in many early societies and even much later in Greece and Rome. Since the contemporary people were brutal and did not show compassion or mercy, their gods also were attributed with these features. In order to appease their wrath and to secure a good harvest, they practised ritual human sacrifices which included offerings of even women and children The human sacrifices were very common and survived in the customs of Chinese, Hindu, Egyptians, Hebrews, Greeks, Romans and many other groups; and with primitive African and Australian tribes up to the present times. The acceptance of such sacrifices confirms the Bible, where God asking Abraham to kill his son Isaac had not caused revolt or surprise. In the place Luhansk in the present Ukraine had been discovered burial mounds with thousands of ritually killed victims in a period from the 30th century BC till the 10th century BC.. Society lived at the very rock bottom of their consciousness, caring mainly about its material needs, differing little from the needs of animals. However people managed to establish a comparatively stable existence for themselves and they developed religious systems which gave them a certain sense of security.
Map showing the genesis of civilizations
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Ancient Civilizations
The New Genesis Foundation

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