Ur was an important city in ancient Mesopotamia located along the Euphrates River. It had a sophisticated governmental system ruled by priests and kings. The economy relied on trade and irrigation-based agriculture using barter. Citizens practiced an elaborate religion, worshipping gods in a large temple called a ziggurat. They had social hierarchies and lived in houses of varying quality. The people of Ur were intelligent, inventing new technologies and artistic crafts while also highly religious.
2. WHAT IS UR?
Ur, modern Tall al-Muqayyar or Tell el-Muqayyar, Iraq, important city of ancient
southern Mesopotamia (Sumer), situated about 140 miles (225 km) southeast of the
site of Babylon and about 10 miles (16 km) west of the present bed of the Euphrates
River.
3. 1. POLITICAL LIFE IN UR:
• Ur was the site of highly sophisticated. There was governmental ruling in Ur. The
Governmental system was govern by Priests and Priestesses. They have kings which
were known as their Gods. They have a great power. Ur also had an army for their
city’s defense. In the given picture, we can see the king of Ur whose name was Ur-
Nammu who was also the builder of ziggurat and also we can see standard of Ur.
4. 2.ECONOMIC LIFE OF UR
• Trading and Irrigation both paid a very important role in economy of Ur. The artist
and other craft workers produce trade goods which were beneficial for UR economy.
The merchants help in awning, trade farmer's crops and artian's crafts. The
irrigation method was also used to help the Ur city to have food supplies much
which keep economy thriving. At that age there was no money or coins to do trading
so people used to do barter method.
5. 3. RELIGION IN UR
• Citizens of Ur believe in Gods. They had their own religion. They used to believe in after
life. They elaborated burial rituals. They built a temple for worship purpose. They used
to worship there gods every day. That temple was known as "Ziggurat (mountain of
gods)" which picture is pasted below
• This temple was located in the center of the Ur city. There priests conducted ritual to
worship the city gods who loom over Ur. They often scarified animals for sake of their
Gods. There was also a place in ziggurat where they used to keep grains, woven fabrics
and gems for Gods.
6. 4. SOCIAL LIFE OF UR
• Ur people used to live in houses. Most people used to live in single storey,
windowless and box like houses while some rich people used to live in 2 storeys with
well facilities. Below are some views of their houses :
7. 5. INTELLECTUAL
• Ur people were intelligent and religious. They invented much new stuff for their
own ease. Even they enclosed the whole city with boundaries, walls were made of
mud brick for their defense of city . They used oxen driven plows for agriculture
purposes and also worked barefoot in irrigation ditches that run between pitches of
green plants. They made simple ways of irrigation which later helped them to
produce large amount of food products by which Ur economy becomes stronger.
Below is a view of it:
8. 6. ARTISTIC
• They built houses and temple etc. They also made weapons like spearhead which
help the Ur's well organized armies. They created lavish jewelry, musical
instruments and gold daggers etc. Some of their handmade arts are given below:
• A) Jewelry B) Musical instrument
