Urbanization is when more and more people leave rural areas and move to cities. During this time, Mesopotamian cities like Uruk and Babylon grew larger and more populated. People were attracted to these cities because they offered better opportunities for jobs, education, and healthcare. As the cities expanded, they built new buildings, roads, and other structures to support the growing population. 

Urbanization was closely linked to the development of trade, industries, and a complex social structure. While it brought benefits like access to resources and services, it also brought challenges, such as crowded living conditions and the need to manage resources carefully. The urbanization of Mesopotamia was an essential achievement as it led to the growth and organization of early cities, shaping the foundations of civilization and laying the groundwork for future urban developments throughout history.

In ancient Mesopotamia, people developed innovative agricultural technology that greatly improved farming practices and food production. The Mesopotamians built irrigation systems to control water and deliver it to their fields, ensuring crops received enough water even during dry seasons. They created plows and farming tools to make tilling the soil and planting seeds easier and more efficient. With the use of animals like oxen to pull the plows, farming became less physically demanding. The Mesopotamians also learned to store and manage water in large reservoirs and canals, allowing them to grow crops on a larger scale. By mastering these agricultural techniques, the Mesopotamians were able to grow more food, which led to larger populations and the growth of cities. Their agricultural achievements were crucial in shaping the success of their civilization and remain an essential part of their historical legacy.

Trade and commerce were significant aspects of ancient Mesopotamian civilization. Mesopotamia was situated in a fertile region between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, which allowed for abundant agricultural production. As a result, surplus food was generated, creating an opportunity for trade with neighboring regions.

Mesopotamian cities, like Uruk and Ur, became bustling centers of trade. They engaged in both local and long-distance trade, exchanging goods such as grains, textiles, metals, pottery, and precious stones with neighboring cities and regions.

Trade was facilitated by the use of rivers and canals, which allowed for the transportation of goods by boats. Additionally, donkeys and camels were used for overland trade routes, connecting different parts of Mesopotamia and reaching as far as the Indus Valley and the Mediterranean region.

To ensure fair trade practices and resolve disputes, the Mesopotamians developed a system of trade laws and contracts, which were recorded on clay tablets. These records have provided valuable insights into their commercial activities.

As trade flourished, it also facilitated cultural exchange, as people from different regions came into contact with each other, sharing ideas, technologies, and traditions.

Mesopotamian society had an early understanding of medicine. Priests and physicians took care of the sick and used clay tablets to record medical knowledge. They knew about plants and herbs for making medicines and combined them with prayers to heal the sick. Simple surgeries like setting broken bones were also performed. Although their practices may seem basic now, they laid the groundwork for future medical advancements and their contributions to the history of medicine were valuable.. 

*pharmacopoeia - A book describing chemicals, drugs, and other substances and how they are used as medicines.