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Mesopotamian

Mesopotamian architecture and city planning focused on urban layouts centered around religious and administrative structures, utilizing rivers for water supply and trade. Key features included ziggurats, palaces, defensive walls, and advanced irrigation systems, with mud bricks as the primary building material. Notable structures included the Ziggurat of Ur and the possibly mythical Hanging Gardens of Babylon, showcasing innovative construction techniques and city fortifications.

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phaneesh
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50 views4 pages

Mesopotamian

Mesopotamian architecture and city planning focused on urban layouts centered around religious and administrative structures, utilizing rivers for water supply and trade. Key features included ziggurats, palaces, defensive walls, and advanced irrigation systems, with mud bricks as the primary building material. Notable structures included the Ziggurat of Ur and the possibly mythical Hanging Gardens of Babylon, showcasing innovative construction techniques and city fortifications.

Uploaded by

phaneesh
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Mesopotamian Architecture & City Planning

1. Urban Layout & City Planning

●​ Mesopotamian cities were planned and fortified, built around central religious and
administrative structures.​

●​ Cities were located near rivers for water supply, irrigation, and trade.​

●​ Main features of city planning:​

○​ Ziggurat (Temple Complex): Center of religious and civic life.​

○​ Palaces: Residences for kings and administrative centers.​

○​ Defensive Walls: Thick mudbrick walls for protection from invasions.​

○​ Canals & Irrigation: Advanced water management systems.​

○​ Markets & Residential Areas: Houses, workshops, and open-air markets.​

○​ Wide Processional Roads: Used for religious and royal ceremonies.​

2. Building Materials & Construction Techniques

●​ Mud Bricks: The primary building material (due to lack of stone and wood).​

●​ Reed & Bitumen: Used for roofing and waterproofing.​

●​ Brickwork Innovations:​

○​ Baked bricks for durability.​

○​ Glazed bricks (especially in Babylon, with colorful depictions of animals and


gods).
3. Key Architectural Structures

A. Ziggurats (Religious Temples)


●​ Pyramid-like stepped structures dedicated to gods.​

●​ Built with solid mudbrick cores and baked brick facings.​

●​ Featured staircases or ramps leading to the temple at the top.​

●​ Example: Ziggurat of Ur (c. 2100 BCE).

C. Defensive Walls & City Fortifications

●​ Massive walls surrounded cities to protect against invasions.​

●​ Often had gates with elaborate carvings (e.g., Ishtar Gate in Babylon).​

●​ Some cities had moats and watchtowers for added security.​

D. Residential Houses & Streets


●​ Homes were built from mud brick and had flat roofs.​

●​ Common layout:​

○​ Small rooms surrounding a central courtyard.​

○​ Few windows to protect from heat and dust.​

○​ Wealthier homes had multiple floors and decorated walls.​

●​ Streets were narrow and winding in lower-class areas, while main roads were wider
in elite districts.

E. The Hanging Gardens of Babylon (Possibly Mythical)

●​ Described as a lush, terraced garden built by King Nebuchadnezzar II (6th century


BCE).​

●​ Thought to have used an advanced irrigation system.​

●​ No archaeological evidence yet, but Greek historians recorded its existence.​

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