The first two chapters of Mario Liverani's Uruk were captivating and contained a lot of thought provoking information. The topic about how the city of Uruk developed made me question things I had previously learned. For example, it encouraged me to question the definition and use of words like "revolution". Words such as this one have a connotation that relates them to other ideas. As Liverani writes, "Using the word revolution, even in a metaphorical way, implies that there were fractures, painful choices, conscious strategies, and structural reversals, which break with the past rather than continue to build on it". This term contrasts with the word "transition" because it adds a progressive element. Next, these chapters contained useful information about the urbanization of the ancient near east. It was useful that Liverani compared past hypotheses and explained how they have developed. For example, he talked about the change from “pictographic” to “cuneiform” script. Furthermore, it was helpful that Liverani presented background information to give perspective to the material being presented. For example, he illustrates the history of Mesopotamia and the growth it made, especially in agriculture. It is fascinating to learn how the development of one thing leads to another. The effect of the introduction of new things was greatly felt and encouraged growth and changed values. The text is very interesting and I enjoy the fact that he is able to present complex topics in simpler terms. Liverani’s work is encouraging me to be more analytical of information I am presented. Also, it is providing a different perspective through which I can study history and new information.
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