Ep 3. Cities

First Civilizations season 1 episode 3, titled "Cities," explores the rise of urbanization in the ancient world. The episode focuses on the cities of Mesopotamia, Egypt, and the Indus Valley and examines how they were built and how they functioned.

The episode explains how Mesopotamia was one of the first regions to develop cities due to its favorable geography and the availability of resources such as water and fertile land. It goes on to explain that the city of Uruk, one of the earliest cities in Mesopotamia, was home to thousands of people and had a complex system of government and economics. The episode also discusses how Uruk was the birthplace of writing and how this innovation helped facilitate the growth of civilization.

The episode then moves on to discuss ancient Egypt and its relationship to the Nile River. It explains how the Nile was an integral part of Egyptian life and how it was instrumental in the development of cities like Thebes and Memphis. The episode goes on to explain how these cities were organized, with the pharaoh at the top of a complex societal hierarchy. It also examines how religion played a significant role in Egyptian city life, with many temples situated within the cities themselves.

Finally, the episode delves into the cities of the Indus Valley and their unique characteristics. It explains how the cities of Harappa and Mohenjo Daro were built using a grid-based system and how they had an advanced sewage system. The episode also discusses how the cities were multiethnic and how this diversity contributed to their success.

Throughout the episode, experts and historians provide commentary on the various aspects of city life in these ancient civilizations. They explore topics such as the development of trade and commerce, the role of religion and governance, and the challenges faced by these early urban centers. The episode also uses computer-generated graphics to provide a visual representation of what these cities might have looked like.

Overall, "Cities" provides a fascinating look at the origins of urbanization and the development of some of the world's earliest cities. It explores how these cities were built and how they functioned, as well as the various challenges they faced. Through expert commentary and computer-generated imagery, viewers are transported back in time to witness the birth of civilization as we know it.