Ep 1. A Tale of Two Ancient Cities

The Big History of Civilizations is a documentary series that takes a deep dive into the rise and fall of great civilizations throughout history. In season 1 episode 1, titled "A Tale of Two Ancient Cities," the focus is on the emergence of two of the earliest cities in the world - Mesopotamia's Ur and Egypt's Memphis.

The episode begins with an overview of the world in 3500 BCE, a time when humans were still living as nomadic hunter-gatherers. The narrator then explains how, around this time, some humans began to settle in one place permanently and develop agriculture. This leads to the emergence of communities and, eventually, cities.

We are then introduced to Ur, a city located in what is now Iraq. The documentary describes the city's layout and architecture, including its impressive ziggurat - a type of stepped pyramid that served as a religious center. We learn that Ur was a major center of trade and commerce, and that it played an important role in the development of writing and mathematics.

Next, the focus shifts to Memphis, Egypt's first capital city. We see the famous pyramids and learn about the amazing engineering feats that were needed to construct them. The narrator explains that Memphis was a major cultural and religious center, and that it played a vital role in ancient Egyptian society.

The documentary then compares and contrasts the two cities: while both were centers of trade and commerce, their societies were quite different. Ur was ruled by kings and was more focused on trade and commerce, while Memphis was ruled by pharaohs and was more focused on religion and the afterlife.

We also learn about the challenges faced by these early civilizations. Ur was destroyed several times by invading armies, and Memphis faced challenges from neighboring city-states. Both cities had to contend with natural disasters like floods and droughts.

The episode wraps up by exploring the legacy of these ancient cities. We learn about the impact they had on later civilizations, and how some of their technological and cultural developments continue to influence the world today.

Overall, "A Tale of Two Ancient Cities" is a fascinating and informative look at the earliest civilizations in human history. It provides a great introduction to the series for anyone interested in history or anthropology, and is sure to leave viewers eager to learn more about the rise and fall of great civilizations throughout history.