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E96: Cycles of Civilization with Samo Burja and Rudyard Lynch
"Moment of Zen"
Civilizational Cycles: From Sumeria to Babylon
Civilizational transformation often follows a cyclical pattern characterized by rise and fall, as evidenced by the historical trajectory from Sumeria to Babylon. Sumeria, around 3000 BC, experienced decline due to factors like population reduction and cultural shifts. The Amorites, originating from Arabia, conquered southern Iraq and led to a significant linguistic change as the Sumerian language—a non-Semitic language—was replaced by Babylonian, a Semitic language. Despite this change, the new civilization retained many elements of Sumerian religion, using Sumerian as a priestly language. The transition was marked by societal challenges, such as the collapse of extensive irrigation systems and the emergence of a power structure where rulers found themselves vastly diminished, much like a contemporary king with only a handful of warriors. This dynamic illustrates not just a linear progression of civilizations but reveals a complex interplay of continuity, cultural resistance, and the social tensions between established populations and newcomers, echoing contemporary discourses on identity and belonging.
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