Mesopotamia
美音、自然拼读、分级阅读与词汇复习
Table of Contents Introduction.
导言表。
4 The Ubaid.
4"乌贝德".
5 Uruk, the First City.
5 乌鲁克一城.
7 Warring City-States.
7个战城-州.
11 Prosperity and Advancement.
11 繁荣与进步。
13 Fall of an Empire.
13个帝国的倒下。
15 Glossary.
15 词汇。
16 Introduction Human beings have been around for a long time.
16 引言. 人类相去已久.
For much of that time, they lived in groups of families or tribes.
在这段时间的大部分时间里,他们生活在一些家庭或部落中。
It took a while for them to form civilized societies.
他们花了一段时间才形成文明社会。
A civilized society is one with rules that help people live and work together.
一个文明的社会是一个有帮助人们共同生活和工作的规则的社会.
One of the earliest civilized societies was found in ancient Mesopotamia.
最早的文明社会之一出自于古代美索不达米亚.
Mesopotamia was located where Turkey, Syria, Iraq, and Kuwait are now.
美索不达米亚曾是土耳其,叙利亚,伊拉克,科威特现在的所在地.
This “land between two rivers” was the place where civilization was born.
这个“两河相接的土地”是文明诞生地。
The name Mesopotamia means “the land between two rivers.”
美索不达米亚这一名称的意思是“两条河流之间的土地。 “
This refers to its location between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers.
这是指它位于底格里斯河和幼发拉底河之间.
The Ubaid Ancient Mesopotamian civilization started between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers.
乌贝德古代美索不达米亚文明从底格里斯河和幼发拉底河之间开始.
That land came to be known as the Fertile Crescent.
那块地被称为"发酵新月"
The first people to live in Mesopotamia settled the southern part of that region.
居住在美索不达米亚的第一批人定居了该地区的南部。
Today, this area is Iraq and Kuwait.
今天,该地区是伊拉克和科威特。
In modern times, ancient stone tools, bricks, and pottery were found near the Euphrates River.
在现代,在幼发拉底河附近出土了古代的石器,砖,陶等.
These items told stories about the lives of the early people.
这些物品讲述了早期人的生活.
Researchers learned that farming settlements began there as early as 5000 bce.
研究人员得知,农业定居点早在5000bce开始在那里.
They named these early settlers the Ubaid after the site where the items were discovered.
他们以发现这些物品的地点命名这些早期定居者。
A small box thought to be a case for a musical instrument shows life in early Mesopotamia.
一个小盒子被认为是一个乐器的案例,显示了美索不达米亚早期的生活.
The Ubaid were the first people to settle the land known as Sumer.
乌贝德是最早定居被称作"苏美尔"的土地的人.
Before the Ubaid formed settlements, they were nomadic hunters and gatherers.
在乌贝德人建立定居点之前,他们是游牧的猎人和采集者.
They roamed from place to place in search of food and water.
他们到处找食物和水
In time, the Ubaid found ways to live in one place.
随着时间的推移,乌贝德找到了一种生活方式.
They drained marshes and grew crops in the rich soil.
他们在丰富的土壤中排出沼泽并种植农作物.
They built canals to bring water to drier areas.
他们建造了运河,为干燥地区取水.
They made pottery from river clay.
他们用河泥做陶器
In addition, they wove baskets from plant stems that grew in shallow water.
此外,它们还从生长于浅水中的植物生出花篮子.
The river did not only meet their personal needs.
河流不仅满足了他们的个人需要。
It also gave the Ubaid goods to trade with others.
它还让Ubaid货物与他人进行贸易。
Trade routes from Asia and Europe went through the rich plains of Sumeria.
来自亚洲和欧洲的贸易路线通向了富饶的苏美尔平原.
Traders provided items that the Ubaid could not grow or make themselves.
交易商提供了Ubaid无法生长或制造的物品。
A lion’s head was found at a famous Ubaid site.
在著名的Ubaid地发现一头狮子。
Uruk, the First City Over the years, there were more settlements in the Fertile Crescent.
乌鲁克,第一城市 多年来,发酵新月有更多的居民点.
Some grew to become true cities.
有些人成长为真正的城市。
A number became city-states.
一个数字成为了城邦.
The most important of these was Uruk (modern-day Warka, Iraq).
其中最重要的是乌鲁克(现代伊拉克沃克).
At one point, Uruk had up to eighty thousand people.
乌鲁克一度有多达8万人.
The city covered more than 2.
城市覆盖了2个以上.
6 square kilometers (1 sq.
6平方公里(1平方公里)。
mi.)
(中文(简体) ).
and had large buildings made of mud bricks.
有用泥砖砌成的大型建筑
A huge ziggurat, or temple, was a center of worship.
一个巨大的齐古拉特,或者说神庙,是一个礼拜的中心.
A drawing (top) shows a ziggurat from ancient Mesopotamia.
一张图(上)显示出出出自古美索不达米亚的zi.
The stone base of Uruk’s ziggurat (bottom) still sits at its original site.
乌鲁克的Ziggurat(下方)的石基仍然坐落在原地.
A tablet written in cuneiform script from about 2350 bce shows monthly grain amounts.
一块由大约2350 bce用出库内活字书写的平板显示出月粮量.
Uruk was where Mesopotamian pictographs first appeared.
乌鲁克是美索不达米亚象形文字最早出现的地方.
Pictographs are symbols used in writing.
象形文字是用在文字上的符号.
This early written language grew out of Uruk’s role as a center of trade and business.
这种早期的书面语言源于乌鲁克作为贸易和商业中心的作用.
Simple images were marked on clay tablets to add up workers’ pay and as a record of goods.
在粘土片上标出简单的图像,以加起来工人的工资和作为货物记录。
Over time, pictographs changed into a system of writing known as cuneiform.
随着时间推移,象形文字变成了一种被称为"cuneiform"的书写系统.
Cuneiform symbols stood for sounds rather than objects.
Cuneiform符号代表声音而不是对象.
These sound symbols could be used to write in any language.
这些声音符号可用于以任何语言书写.
This phonologic system had several advantages over a pictographic system.
这种相声学系统比相声学系统有几种优点.
Since the same set of symbols could be shuffled to form different words, fewer symbols were needed.
由于同一套符号可以被洗发来形成不同的单词,所以需要的符号较少.
The system also made it easier to express abstract concepts that would be difficult to show as pictures.
该系统还使那些难以作为图片展示的抽象概念更容易被表达出.
Clay tablets marked with cuneiform symbols gave information about Sumerian life during that time.
以圆形符号为标志的克莱平板提供了当时苏美尔人生活的信息.
The people of Uruk and other city-states lived in organized societies.
乌鲁克和其他城邦的人民生活在有组织的社会中。
Women had many of the same rights as men.
妇女享有许多与男子相同的权利。
At the highest level of society was a priest-king.
在社会的最高层是牧师王.
That person led others, such as a leader of the plow, leader of the law, and so on.
那个人领导了其他人,比如一个犁地的领袖,法律的领袖等.
City rulers used trade to show how important they were.
城市统治者利用贸易来表明他们有多重要.
Having rare and valuable items was a way to show off their power.
拥有珍贵珍贵的珍贵物品是展示他们力量的一种方式。
Ancient Paycheck Many bowls such as this one were produced in Uruk.
古代薪资 乌鲁克生产出许多这样的碗.
They were used as measuring tools to pay workers in bowls of grain.
它们被用作衡量粮食碗中工人报酬的工具。
The clay tablet was used for keeping track of the measured goods.
粘土平板用于跟踪所测量的货物。
One of the most famous rulers was King Gilgamesh (Bilgames in Sumerian).
最出名的统治者之一是吉尔伽美什国王(英语:Bilgames in Sumerian).
Gilgamesh is believed to have ruled Uruk around 2700 bce.
吉尔伽美什据信在2700 bce左右统治了乌鲁克.
He became an epic hero of song and legend.
他成为了歌曲和传说的史诗英雄.
Poems were written about his 126-year rule.
诗被写到他的126年统治.
He was said to be a demigod, the son of a human king and a Sumerian mother-goddess.
据说他是一个神明,是人类国王和苏美尔人母亲-神的儿子.
Gilgamesh is known for building the huge wall that protected Uruk.
吉尔伽美什以建造保护乌鲁克的巨大城墙而出名.
That wall still stands today.
这座墙今天仍然站着。
In 2003, German scientists found a tomb in a Euphrates riverbed that they thought belonged to Gilgamesh.
2003年,德国科学家在幼发拉底河床发现了一座他们认为属于吉尔伽美什的坟墓.
It was similar to the tomb described in the epic.
与史诗所描述的墓葬相类似.
The Epic of Gilgamesh The Epic of Gilgamesh is a collection of ancient Mesopotamian poems.
吉尔伽梅斯诗集(The Epic of Gilgamesh The Epic of Gilgamesh)是古代美索不达米亚诗集.
It tells of the exciting adventures of an ancient king’s battles and victories.
它讲述了古代国王之战和胜利的激动人心的冒险.
It is thought to be the oldest epic in history.
被认为是史上最古老的史诗.
Stone tablets on which the poem is written date back to about 2100 bce.
所写诗作的石碑可以追溯到约2100bce.
The epic tale describes Gilgamesh wearing the skins of lions he killed.
史诗故事描述了吉尔伽美什穿着他所杀狮子的外皮.
Warring City-States As the Sumerian city-states grew and thrived, they began to fight with each other for control of the region.
交战城市国家 随着苏美尔城邦的兴起和兴起,他们开始为控制这一地区而相争.
War became more and more common.
战争变得越来越普遍.
The earliest detailed record of Sumerian warfare shows a battle between the city-states of Lagash and Umma in 2525 bce.
关于苏美尔战争的最早详细记录显示,拉加什和乌玛两个城邦在2525 bce的战斗.
Figures on an upright stone post called a stele (STEE-lee) show soldiers carrying swords, spears, and shields into battle.
一个直立的石头柱子上的数字 叫做Stele (STEE-lee) 显示士兵携带剑、长矛和盾牌投入战斗。
Trade routes supplied the materials needed to craft the tools of war.
贸易路线提供了设计战争工具所需的材料。
Blacksmiths had discovered that two soft metals, copper and tin, could be combined to make a harder substance.
铁匠们发现有两种软金属,铜和锡,可以被合而为一地来制造更硬的物质.
This metal, known as bronze, was used in swords and spear tips.
这种被称作"青铜"的金属被用在了剑和矛尖上.
Tin, however, was rare.
然而,锡是罕见的。
It could only be gotten from central Asian or European traders.
它只能取自中亚或欧洲的贸易商。
Blocking trade routes was a way to keep weapons out of the hands of an opposing army.
封锁贸易路线是防止武器落入敌对军队手中的一种方法。
This piece from a stele is one of the oldest known historical documents.
这出出自斯德莱尔的作品是已知最古老的历史文献之一.
It shows the war between Lagash and Umma.
它显示了拉加什和乌玛之间的战争.
The Sumerians’ constant fighting stopped when King Sargon of Akkad (in southern Mesopotamia) took control of the region in about 2340 bce.
苏美尔人的不断战斗在阿卡德国王萨尔贡(位于美索不达米亚南部)于约2340 bce控制了该地区后停止了.
He united the city-states into the Akkadian Empire.
他将城邦统一为阿卡德帝国.
Sargon kept order by placing key trusted allies in positions of power.
萨尔贡通过将关键信任的盟友置于权力位置来维持秩序.
The king’s followers continued this practice.
国王的追随者继续这种做法。
The Akkadian empire lasted until 2150 bce.
阿卡德帝国一直持续到2150 bce.
At its peak, it stretched from the Mediterranean Sea to Arabia and from Iran to what is now Turkey.
在高峰时期,它从地中海延伸到阿拉伯,从伊朗延伸到现在的土耳其。
The Akkadians did not speak Sumerian.
阿卡德人不会说苏美尔语。
However, they used Sumerian cuneiform script to write in their own language.
然而,他们使用苏美尔语cuneiform脚本来用自己的语言来写作.
The Sumerian languages were only used in important ceremonies.
苏美尔语只在重要的仪式中使用.
The earliest Sumerian writings in which the author was known were poems by Sargon’s daughter Enheduanna.
最早认识作者的苏美尔著作是萨尔贡的女儿恩赫杜安娜所写的诗作.
She served as high priestess in the city of Ur.
她在乌尔城出任大祭司.
Among her poems were many verses praising Inanna, the most popular goddess in Mesopotamia.
她的诗作中有许多诗歌来赞美美索不达米亚最受欢迎的女神伊南娜.
Prosperity and Advancement Peace during the Akkadian empire brought progress to Mesopotamia.
阿卡德帝国时期的繁荣与进步和平给美索不达米亚带来了进步.
Under Akkadian rule, Mesopotamia created the first mail system.
在阿卡德统治下,美索不达米亚创建了第一个邮件系统.
Clay tablets were marked with cuneiform messages, then wrapped in clay envelopes.
克莱平板被标记为有圆锥形信息,再被粘土信封包裹.
An envelope was pressed with the seal of the sender and the name and address of the receiver.
信封上印有发送者的封印以及接收者的姓名和地址。
The clay envelope had to be broken in order to get to the message inside.
粘土信封必须被打碎才能得到里面的信息.
This kept anyone but the receiver from reading it.
这让除了接收器以外的任何人都无法阅读.
A central government carried out laws and regulations.
一个中央政府执行了法律法规。
Trade grew and expanded.
贸易增长和扩展。
Business deals used cylinder seals—carved tubes that were pressed into clay.
商业交易使用被压入粘土的圆柱形密封管。
Pressing one’s seal into the clay was like signing one’s name today.
把封印塞入粘土就像今天的签名。
The Mesopotamians also developed the idea of numerical place value.
美索不达米亚人也发展出数值地值的概念.
The way we measure time uses this same system from long ago.
我们测量时间的方法 使用同样的系统 从很久以前。
A System of Sixty We use number base systems to count certain things.
六十国制度 我们使用数基系统来计算某些东西.
For example, when counting dozens of eggs, we use base twelve: twelve eggs equal one dozen.
例如,在计算出几十个卵时,我们使用12个基数:12个卵等于一打.
When we count time, we use a system created by the ancient Mesopotamians—base sixty.
当我们数起时间时,我们使用由古代美索不达米亚人创建的系统——第60个基地。
There are sixty seconds in one minute and sixty minutes in one hour.
1分有60秒,1小时有60分.
Around 3500 bce, the Sumerians began using a round flat mechanical device to make clay bowls.
大约3500 bce,苏美尔人开始使用圆形平面机械装置来制作粘土碗.
The potter’s wheel sat horizontally on an axis and, when spun, allowed the potter to make a bowl with even edges and surfaces.
锅炉的轮子水平地坐到一轴上,当摇摆时,使锅炉能用平边和表面来做一碗.
It took a while for the Sumerians to use it to easily move objects and transport people.
苏美尔人花了一段时间才利用它来方便地移动物体并运送人.
After much experimenting, the Sumerians tried attaching one wheel to each side of a single axle.
经过多次实验,苏美尔人尝试在一轴的两侧相接一个轮子.
The result made it easy to carry loads.
结果使得携带负载变得容易.
The cart rolled across the ground with minimal effort.
推车在地上翻滚,几乎不费功夫。
Other civilizations copied the Sumerians’ invention, and wheels were soon used across the world.
其他文明抄袭了苏美尔人的发明,车轮很快被全世界所使用.
The Sumerians’ invention of the wheel was one of the most important technological advances in human history.
苏美尔人发明了轮子,是人类历史上最重要的技术进步之一.
Fall of an Empire The Akkadian Empire ended in about 2150 bce after many revolts and an invasion by the Gutians (GOO-tee-uhnz).
帝国倒台 阿卡德帝国在经历了多起叛乱和古提人(GOO-tee-uhnz)的入侵后以约2150 bce结束.
The Gutians came from the mountains to the north and held regular raids on the outer parts of the kingdom.
古提人从山上来向北并定期地对王国外地进行突袭.
This made it unsafe for Akkadians to travel or work in the fields.
这使得阿卡德人在田地上出行或工作不安全.
In time, the Gutian nomads took over Akkad, and the Akkadian Empire collapsed.
时有古地人游牧民占领了阿卡德,阿卡德帝国倒台.
The Gutians let the canals fall apart and brought on a terrible famine.
古提人让运河分崩离析,带来了可怕的饥荒.
Their 125-year rule of Sumer led to what came to be known as the Dark Age of Mesopotamia.
他们长达125年的苏美尔统治导致了被称为"美索不达米亚黑暗时代".
It was not until the seventeenth century bce that Mesopotamia would return as a thriving empire called Babylonia.
直到17世纪,美索不达米亚才会作为一个繁荣的叫巴比伦亚的帝国而回归。
A statue shows Gudea, a Gutian prince who ruled Lagash between 2144 and 2124 bce.
一个雕像显示古地亚,古地亚是2144至2124 bce之间统治拉加什的古地亚王子.