Timeline
5400–4500 BCE Ubaid 1–2 period
Mixed farming communities are well established
throughout West Asia, including the Ubaid culture in
southern Mesopotamia (Babylonia, also known as
Sumer and Akkad) where simple irrigation is required.
4500–4100 BCE Ubaid 3–4 period
Characteristic Ubaid-style pottery is distributed
throughout West Asia and along the Gulf’s Arabian coast,
demonstrating the wide range of exchange networks.
4100–3400 BCE Early Uruk period
Settlements in Babylonia increase greatly in number.
Transformative innovations increase Babylonia’s
economic prosperity and industrial efficiency: these
include the plow, the threshing sledge, animal traction
and transport, the potter’s wheel, wheeled transport,
and sheep bred for wool.
Cylinder seals are invented in Babylonia, used efficiently
to create an official impression on clay sealing packages,
containers, and doors; they replace simpler stamp seals.
Tokens strung on strings or enclosed in clay balls are
used in Babylonia as accounting devices; by 3500 BCE
these are supplemented or replaced by tablets bearing
token impressions.
3400–3100 BCE Late Uruk period
Babylonia is characterized by high agricultural
production; developing urbanism, with towns and at
