Dawn of Civilization: Lagash Committee Background Guide

Joint Crisis Committee Empire Model United Nations Conference VII New York University - November 2020

Letters from your Chair & CD Your Chair, Richard Gao

My Delegates,

What an odd and curious time we are in. Welcome to EmpireMUNC, and more specifically, to Lagash. I am your committee chair, Richard, and I am excited for EmpireMUNC, as it will be the first virtual conference I have ever staffed or even known. I am currently a Sophomore, with one real, and one zoom semester under my belt. Currently, I have plans on majoring in both Economics and Philosophy, and when I’m not studying, you can see me skating around the city, exploring new places only achievable on a skateboard. I run a shoe selling business, and I love talking about sneakers and history memes. My Model UN career began in high school, and early on, it really served as a way for me to hang out with my friends, most of whom were in the club at our school. It wasn’t long though before I began taking more of an interest and becoming more involved. By senior year I was part of the secretariat at my school. Currently, I am a member of NYU’s Model UN travel team. Feel free to ask about anything relating to Model UN in college. Lagash is one part of the JCC this conference, and Joint Crisis Committees have always been the most fun personally. I have experience running a committee, but not a JCC with the moving parts of three committees interacting with one another. We have cool things planned, and I assure you, that by the day of the conference, the JCC will be a well-oiled machine. I’ll be honest, when the secretariat first announced that the entire conference would be virtual, I didn’t really react because I had trouble connecting to the Zoom link. But when I eventually found out, there were initial feelings of shock, that were soon replaced by a feeling of optimism. With this conference, we are all pioneers of a new era of conferences. Instead of thinking of the virtual as an obstacle, I choose to think of it as an adaptation to our situation. There are still many rough edges to polish, but if you think of the tools that Zoom offers, it can be surprisingly compatible with debate. I advise you to be open to new things. As Uncle Iroh once said, “Destiny is a funny thing. You never know how things are going to work out.” If you have any questions about anything, I encourage you to email me at [email protected]

Courteously and warmly, Richard Gao, Chair EmpireMUNC VII

1 Your CD, Justin Zhou Dear Delegates,

Hello everyone! My name is Justin, a sophomore planning on majoring in economics, and I am going to be your Crisis Director for EmpireMUNC VII! I am a native New Yorker with a profound love for politics and government as well as the economic system that serves as society's beating heart. This love is what drove me towards Model UN in the first place: the ultimate international stage where all three of these disciplines intersect. Joining Model UN in high school was not just to pique my interest in public and international policy, it was to also make friends, practice public speaking, and to have fun. I truly hope EmpireMUNC is going to be a place where you learn and debate, just as much as it is a place for you to have fun and build amazing friendships. At the core of your Model UN journey, has always been this thirst to brainstorm solutions for the most challenging and pressing world problems through diplomacy and debate. I hope to emphasize that this core will not change regardless of the type of political or social climate that you live in. Because behind every problem that society faces, is a brilliant and clever solution waiting for you to tackle and uncover. Especially during this pandemic, where this country specifically has been plagued with various problems that socially, culturally, and economically troublesome, I am sure the skills you apply and learn at any Model UN conference will become the foundation for you to tackle these problems in the real world. Every committee, regardless of their time, will become a worthwhile experience in your arsenal of problem solving. Our committee is set nearly 5000 years ago, which may seem very distant and detached from present day realities. However, as you read more into the cradle of civilization and the beginnings of written history, I can assure you that you will find the origins of various scientific principles that serve as the basis for modern day inventions and concepts. When delving into the war against Ur and Uruk, you will learn and debate about the intricacies of ancient commerce, trade routes, and the military tactics that very much will enlighten you and challenge your critical thinking. As someone that adores history, I continuously find interesting facts and lessons that intrigue and baffle me. History isn’t just a tool for us to learn and to “predict the future because history repeats itself”, because while that is true to an extent, sometimes we learn about history just for the sake of learning interesting facts, but to also appreciate how far humanity has changed but also how much humanity has stayed the same. I absolutely hope that learning about history will bring to joy and amazement to you just as it has done for me. Lastly, as a sophomore that had gone through this hell of a process known as applying to college not too long ago, I want to share something with the anxious seniors. I am not going to simply tell you to “be yourself” when you are writing your personal statement because that should be a given. The real trick is to create a narrative using your extracurriculars, heritage, family life, and your in-school experience, because not only will a story captivate the readers, it will very clearly explain why you chose the path you walked for your high school career. For the rest of you, my advice is to constantly explore activities to broaden your experiences. Build networks that will carry forward into your college life because they will one day become important story building tools. And with that, I look forward to seeing all of you!

Best, Justin Zhou ( [email protected] )

2 Table of Contents in Brief

The Akkadian Empire ...... 4 The King’s Court ...... 5 The Second Dynasty of Lagash ...... 6 Societal Structure ...... 7 Domestic and International Trade ...... 8 Lagash and Competition ...... 9 Lagash Culture ...... 10 Religion of Lagash ...... 11 Legends and Myths ...... 13 Political Factions: The White Deers vs. The Red Falcons...... 13 The Larks ...... 15 Economics ...... 16 Trade ...... 17 Military ...... 18 Navy ...... 19 There are 2 Imposters Among Us ...... 21

3 The Akkadian Empire:

The first empire of the world emerged from the city of Akkad in 2334 B.C; led by Sargon the Great, Akkadian culture dominated the crescent of civilization through superior technology and faith. But before it became the dominant power in the region, the Akkadian Empire was simply a city-state situated between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. The culture of Akkad reflected the violent nature of their environment. Floods were common, and so was war. Death was a part of life, and no man understood that more than Sargon, chosen by the gods to be the world’s first conqueror.

Born to a humble gardener and priest of Ishtar, Sargon originally served as a cupbearer to Ur-Zababa of Kish, a king who ruled over what would become Akkadia. As a cupbearer,

Sargon secured the loyalty of Ur-Zababa’s subjects, who later usurped Ur-Zababa’s position and claimed the title of king. Akkad would become the capital of Sargon’s new empire, which stretched from the northern tip of the Euphrates to the end of Sumer. And with this conquest,

Sargon saw fit to bestow himself the title of Sargon the Great.

Sargon had few allies and spent much of his time crushing revolts with his vast armies of chariots and spears. Blessed by Zababa, the warrior god of Kish, and Inanna, the Sumerian fertility goddess, Sargon’s armies retained control even when he succumbed to old age. The spears of Akkad were known to never break, for Zababa was on their side. Even when facing impossible odds against the rest of Mesopotamia, Sargon prevailed through faith and strategy.

Unfortunately, Sargon was the only thing keeping the empire together. When Rimush, Sargon’s heir and son became ruler, he lacked the blessing of the gods and Sargon’s tact, leading to

Sumer’s mass slaughter. Lagash itself collapsed and tens of thousands perished.

4 Akkadian was introduced to Mesopotamia as the dominant language and culture. When

Sumer was conquered, Sumerian was gradually replaced by Akkadian as the spoken language, but aspects of Sumerian became intertwined with Akkadian, as much of the sacred and literary language had its roots in Sumerian.

Sargon had perished, Akkad's armies were stretched thin, and the new rulers were not favored by the gods. Unable to maintain political superiority over the empire, Akkad's empire fell, ushering in a tumultuous time resembling a Mesopotamia before the empire. The Gutians, a barbaric population from the Zagros mountains, fell upon the empire's ruins, seizing much of

Mesopotamia for themselves. One hundred eighty years of rule over the cradle of civilization ceased, but their legacy maintained. Akkadian became the dominant language all over the region.

A vast road network headed by Sargon connected the empire together, allowing for unparalleled communication and an increase in trade.

The King’s Court:

The death of Akkadian King Shar-Kali Sharri in 2193 B.C.E marked the beginning of the end for the 180-year-old Akkadian Empire. A lack of decisive and powerful Akkadian Kings after King Shar-Kali created a massive power vacuum within the Akkadian central government, which made countermeasures against the barbarian invasions from the Gutian People to the

North East and the devastating drought much harder. A lack of a powerful king also meant that this was the opportunity for the various city-states to seek independence from the Empire, including Lagash’s King during this time, Puzur-Mama. Puzur took advantage of the political chaos and declared the 2nd Dynasty of Lagash, seeking complete autonomy from the grasps of

5 the Empire. Puzur’s rule was also marked by resistance, as some Lagash people had grown accustomed to the idea of a unified Mesopotamia.

Some preferred a tributary system rather than an independent Lagash. Members of this group of people, The White Deers, includes merchants and nobles that had established trade networks that supplied their wealth. Likewise, military commanders and commoners who preferred peace and diplomacy over war and violence supported a Lagash that took on a more subservient attitude during this crisis. On the opposite side of the spectrum are those who still held grudges against the Empire’s brutality from centuries earlier as well as those who seek a more violent and aggressive approach during this time of chaos. Members of this group, called

The Red Falcons, included nobles and military leaders that are “war hawks”. The Red Falcons prefered gaining power and wealth through military campaigns, always urging Puzur to take on an aggressive approach in developing the Lagash military and initiating military conquest.

The Second Dynasty of Lagash

The Second dynasty of Lagash historically began when Lugal-ushumgal was named governor while still serving as a vassal to King Shar-Kali from 2230- 2110 BCE, however,

Lagash did not gain full autonomy until the ascension of Puzur-Mama. While the Gutian

Barbarians picked up the pieces of the failing Akkadian state to establish the Gutian Empire,

Puzar strived to be largely independent, this may have been the case because they may have blackmailed the Gutian chieftains into doing so.

Puzar personally preferred to be peaceful with their neighbors, with the only exception being Elam, a city-state from south-eastern Babylonia. Puzur’s numerous inscriptions tell us of his world-wide commercial activity, though his political power may not have reached further

6 than Elam outside of Babylonian territory. The power of the patesis of Lagash stretched over some time and was a distinct force in the civilization of lower Babylonia. Puzar never uses the title of king and always calls himself simply patesi; but he never alludes to any other king as his sovereign (strongly hinting that he never swore fealty to the Guti tribe) , he conquered

Anshan, sent out expeditions to Syria and Arabia to secure wood and diorite, and may have prided himself upon his patesi title, designating him as priest king of the god Ningirsu, as some of the earlier Assyrian kings did, who called themselves simply isakku of Asur (Assyria).

Puzar’s main goal was the building and restoration of numerous Sumerian temples, to do this he required a wide assortment of materials. Inscriptions in large numbers on the statues in question, on two large clay barrels and on votive objects confirm the power wielded by Gudea, whose emissaries are sent to the north and south to obtain wood and stone for his buildings and works of art with which he embellishes his seat of residence. Thus, Puzur and Lagash as a whole must have had ameliorative relationship with many neighboring regions.

Societal Structure

Ancient Mesopotamia, much like the other civilizations during that era and those that succeeded it, had a very hierarchical social class system with the kings wielding absolute authority from the top. The kings were followed by the upper echelon of society, composed of nobles, priests, and scribes/government officials/military officials. The middle class consisted of merchants, artisans, and craftsmen, followed by the lower class filled with peasants and slaves.

Mesopotamian Kings were considered embodiments of the Gods, and the gods they embodied were often associated with the Patron deity with the particular city state. Priests served an important role as the intermediary between the mortal and the divine, and interpreted divine

7 messages and omens, performed essential religious observances, and made sacrifices. Priests and priestesses were highly educated individuals that also served as doctors, likewise, scribes had formal education in cuneiform writing and served as important record keepers for all aspects of societal life. Due to the natural geopolitical nature of Mesopotamia, war was an integral part of life, and while military control was directly held by the kings, generals held considerable power in political situations as well as strategy. Lagash’s wealth and like many other city states depend on a strong military to continually expand their economy and prosperity.

Domestic and International Trade:

The discovery of farming and land irrigation created the importance of trade, as a lack of natural resources meant their items had to be outsourced. Lagash’s close proximity to the Persian

Gulf allowed for the creations of docks so ships could easily dock and unload their trading goods. Mesopotamian and Egyptian trade relations mostly occurred through water trade routes; sailors would sail around the Arabian Peninsula, crossing through the Arabian sea until they reached the Red Sea, travelling inward and gaining access to major cities such as Cairo and

Memphis. Mesopotamia also served as an intermediary between the Indus River Valley

Civilization and Egyptians, often also conducting trades of their own for various building resources and luxurious gems and metals.

Within the bounds of the Tigris and Euphrates River, Lagash merchants and traders would use carts with durable wheels or just travel by camels. Otherwise they would walk. The

Mesopotamians used a system of barter as a way for record keeping. They used barley, lead, copper, bronze, tin, silver and gold to trade things they needed from their local area. Bankers also existed in this era, as borrowing from Barley banks became a necessity for some merchants that

8 lacked the means of undergoing the transaction, and these banks usually charged high interest rates. Extending back to Lagash’s distinct advantage of being near the water meant that they had one of the strongest navies when compared to the other city-states. Lagash’s naval capacity allowed for more dynamic trade routes that not only bolstered their wealth, but also the strategic advantage in their conquest against the Elam People.

Lagash and Competition:

The main challenge that faced Lagash was the same challenge that faced all her rivals in

Mesopotamia, the volatile Tigris and Euphrates rivers. While the two rivers were essential to the preservation of the city-states was notorious for frequent and unpredictable floods that devastated farmland and people. Priests point the cause towards the gods, who seek justice for people’s wrongdoings, or simply the gods’ cruelty. A good harvest could be wiped out in a matter of days, leaving the city-state without food. Famine was common, and grain stores would always have to be filled in anticipation of a flood. The life-giving river could also take it away.

While Lagash kept an uneasy peace with her neighbors in Sumer, another civilization to the east over time came to rival the Sumerian city-states in power and influence. The Elam civilization, the precursor to the mighty Persian Empire, was ruled by a dynastic political system.

Elam and Sumer often had skirmishes by the border, and there are many times in history when an

Elam king possessed territory in Sumer and vice versa. When Sargon of Akkad invaded Sumer, the Elam civilization knew they were next, but failed to put up considerable resistance. A new dynasty would free the Elam people from the Akkadians, who now knew of the capabilities of their enemies. The existence of Elam meant the Sumerian city-states are in a vulnerable position, surrounded by its competitors who have a history of war. The Elam rival Sumer in strength,

9 possessing much of the same technology as the Sumerians. Sharing much of the same history, the Elamites will pose a significant problem in the future.

Lagash Culture:

The Lagashi pray to the strongest gods for only the strongest deserve the prayers of the warriors of Sumer. Martial culture defines Lagash, where every citizen is expected to sacrifice their life for the sake of the city. Although citizens have their duties outside of military service, regular sessions of training and discipline have made Sumer’s finest army commanded by capable commanders who have been chosen to lead Lagash’s armies by our patron gods. With their leadership, our armies are blessed with powerful enhancements, granting us tireless warriors that fight with the stamina of 3 soldiers from any other city.

Rituals must be performed before the battle, and sacrifices are imperative to ensure the gods’ favor in the bloodshed to come. Defeat cannot be accepted, and weakness can also not be tolerated. The military is above all, the spear of the city, and it must be used to destroy anything that may threaten it. In the event where the leadership of the city becomes unstable, it is incumbent upon the military to reinstate order until leadership can be solidified. Following the code of Hammurabi, Lagash’s military also serves as the military police of Lagash. Crime is dealt with by a civilian police force, but crime is rare in the homogenous city. Lagash will always be connected by shared blood.

Unlike the Egyptian rich fertile lands that benefit from the flowing Nile River, the

Mesopotamians often had a darker view of their world and their Gods due to the volatile Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. In many cases, the people of Lagash constantly worship the

Mesopotamian pantheon for a good harvest and good weather during travel. The Mesopotamians

10 had a lot of festivals that focused on renewal and rebirth, more specifically on the moon cycle and year to year cycles. There were regular feasts during the new moon and full moon and on the seventh and fifteenth day of the month as well as New Year’s Day. Religion played an important role in these celebrations, where ceremonies and rituals included re-enactments of divine marriages, prayer hymns addressed to the kings, recitation of the creation myths, ritual bathing by the king, royal procession on the land and water and of course lots of feasting and barley beer drinking. Like many of the other Mesopotamian cities, Lagash honors specific deities. Lagash performed war dances before any major confrontations in honor of their patron deity Ningirsu.

Warriors would strike drums with immense force that rumbled the ground, with war horns and dancers and major hunting offerings in hopes of a great war.

Religion of Lagash:

Religion and the worship of the patron deities is the most important duty of the government in Lagash. It is essential to appease the gods to avoid their punishment. The world is cruel, and the first priority of the government has always been the security of its citizens. A bad harvest, an earthquake, and a terrible flood are all signs of the divine discontent. A good government will always maintain a good relationship with the gods. It is impossible to talk about politics without talking about the spiritual, for there is much to lose in ignoring the divine.

Lagash contains many monuments erected by past kings as a way of paying tribute to the gods. The most notable monument was Lagash’s main temple named “E-Ninnu,” dedicated to the god of war, Ningirsu. Ningirsu, the patron god of Lagash, sits at the focal point of Lagashi religion. Maintaining constant prayer, an order of priests keeps the city safe as well as empowers the city’s defenders. The order of priests is led by a head priest, who holds massive influence

11 over the city’s decision as well as the order itself. However, factional infighting has resulted in a blurred balance of power, where many upper priests seek to usurp the title of head priest for themselves. Among the regular prayers to the gods, the priests are also charged with performing ritual ceremonies that honor them.

However, the hegemony of Ningirsu has been under assault. One particular priest,

Kudabala, saw the ongoing massive drought as a punishment from Nergal, the god of plague, disease, and death. It was said that Kudabala once had a dream where he found himself in a pit of sand that seemingly had no bottom. As he was slowly sinking into the pit, he saw a shadowy figure from above pouring vases of adhesive blood onto him. Kudabala was drowning in the thickness of the blood and could hear a whispery voice asking him to surrender himself to the truth. It was revealed that the vases were filled with the blood of the Sumer people that had bled from war and that humanity was nothing but a self-destructing group of people and shouldn’t exist at all. To end humanity, Nergal declared that mankind will face a final war, a war of extinction, the N’gha. Thus, Kudabala began his mission towards ending humanity, using dark magic to construct a series of devices to end the cradle of civilization. Kudabala was branded as a practitioner of evil, and was exiled, but is rumored to still hold influence in the decisions of the city. Though he has been exiled, his followers remain hidden and dangerous, ready to turn on

Lagash at any moment to begin the war of extinction. Kudabala wields evil dark magic that corrupts men. It is rumored that his exile has only brought him more fame and followers across

Mesopotamia. The true citizens of Lagash can never rest well knowing Kudabala’s followers sleep among them.

12 Legends and Myths:

By having a great pantheon of gods within the Mesopotamia religion also constituted a variety of legends and myths. The existence of magic and rituals for example has very much been the interest of priests since the beginning of time. And in a world of unknown, there also exists the possibilities of supernatural entities and magical beasts that roam the land. Utnapishtim was a king and priest of Shuruppak, whose name translates as “He Who Saw Life.” By the god,

Ea’s, connivance, Utnapishtim survived the great deluge that almost destroyed all life on Earth by building a great boat that carried him, his family, and one of every living creature to safety.

The gods granted eternal life to him and his wife. Utnapishtim’s knowledge on eternal life serves as a major point of contention between not only Lagash nobles and Nergal worshippers, but also between city-states that desired an edge in upcoming wars. Magic and supernatural elements will be extremely consequential in the upcoming conflicts, but who is to say there’s a way to harness such powers and understand the world? Legends say Gilgamesh found the divine plant in Dilum, situated directly South of the State of Lagash bordering the west coast of the Red Sea.

Political Factions: The White Deers vs. The Red Falcons

Rising out of the ashes of a post-Sargon formed two dominant political factions- the

White Deer and the Red Falcons. In the point of view of the White Deer, the relative ease in which Lagash fell to Sargon and his armies was a massive wake up call. No longer were the days where Lagashi warriors dominated militarily over their neighbors. In the time of this momentary peace and independence, it was best for the people of Lagash to come together and build relations with those around them. Only through a rebuilding of Lagash do the White Deer see a hope for a dominant Lagash to return and instill fear and respect in Mesopotamia. Only through a

13 strong Lagash will Ningirsu be pleased and proud of the future military might of this great city- state

However, across the aisle the Red Falcons disagreed. Like a caged tiger, the Falcons saw this freedom from the empire as a chance to strike and regain Lagashi glory. Only through conflict will Ningirsu be pleased and bestow his blessing and will upon the people of Lagash.

For the Deer to spit in the face of the gods and preach for peace and security will only make life harder and the gods angrier.

When assessing the agenda of White Deers and the Red Falcons, the two dominant factions within the King’s court, we must consider that these factions are often spearheaded by military commanders and nobles that constantly fought over the King’s attention as advisors in royal politics. Thus, these people hold considerable social status, whether it is immense wealth, political influence, or military status. However, in consideration of the commoners and members of the military that hold lower positions, priorities shift, and different factions emerge out of the desires for war or peace. When King Rimush of Akkad, who ruled Sumer 70 years prior to the events of this committee, introduced mass slaughter and large-scale destruction of the Sumerian city-states to quell the rising rebellions, he maintained meticulous records of his destruction.

Unfortunately, while Rimush’s campaigns introduced massive suffering everywhere and to everyone, the effects were disproportionate, and the peasants incurred the greatest casualties and loss. While the Deers and Falcons differed between wanting war and peace, their preferences occupied the same “elite” class that dominated life in Lagash. These factions are divided in subgroups that focus on different things.

14 The Larks:

Much like the modern political views of Populism, the Larks were a “populist” faction that were anti-noble and composed of many farmers pushing for decreased taxation and a less rigid social class order pushing for more social mobility. There was a strong mentality that the farmers held up the pillars of Mesopotamian civilization and the party was widespread through various city-states that shared their sentiment. After all, the will of Ningirsu has always been enacted by the people, the men and women who fight for this glorious city-state. The Larks believe that by only properly caring for the people can Ningirsu’s blessing truly shine.

However, in the eyes of the Nobles and the King, the Larks were a threat towards their power, but had to be negotiated to prevent internal rebellions. While the Larks do have some internal division when it comes to considering how Lagash should interact with other city states, all of them understand that regardless of such a fact, spoils of war and or any benefits usually fall into the hands of the landowning nobility. However, due to the highly religious state of

Mesopotamian city-states where the power to rule was given to a King by a God, not all farmers were Larks. Ironically, some Larks supported slavery and believed slaves were beneath farmers and should be kept that way, while others believed in true equality for all.

Subdivision of the Larks: The Black Owls

The Owls are the militant arm of the Larks fighting for the common good. They are adept at using murder and assassinations as extreme measures to deliver their political points across.

Members of the Black Owl often steal from the nobles and the rich to feed the poor. The Owls also served as messengers and went on intelligence gathering missions because decisions made

15 by the military and the King were usually kept from the public and not announced. However, their often extreme and brutal tactics were often seen as dishonorable by both the elites and members of the peasantry, giving them both supporters and detractors. The actions the Owls take soon will be instrumental in determining public support or disapproval not only for themselves but for the Larks as well.

Economics:

As a city state in Southern Mesopotamia, Lagash rarely received any rain; the arid lands required large irrigation works to effectively sustain a strong agricultural center. The dryer climate allowed Lagash to reliably produce cereal, legumes, as well as large sheep pastures.

Farms were all situated on either the Tigris, or Euphrates rivers, with dangerous floods arriving unpredictably. Taxes were regularly taken, although granaries were often tapped into as natural disasters struck often. Along with the agriculture occurring on land, Lagash contains a strong fishing industry, providing a steady stream of food for the city, as well as trade with other cities inland.

The large irrigation projects could only be completed by large scale institutions although returns are always high. The economy became dominated by royal palaces, the elite, and the religious temples. The main source of economic struggle came in the form of natural disaster or conflict with other cities. Therefore, adhering to religious customs became crucial for the city in order to prevent the problems from arising. Any surplus from the harvest would be seized into the city's coffers, meant to serve as an emergency granary, or a fund for the next government project. However, corruption by the elite has rarely kept the government stores full, and there is reason to doubt the city government is capable of preventing a famine if need be.

16 Conflict will inevitably be in Lagash’s future. A military will be imperative for any defense, or conquest for the city. Although most of Lagash’s military is citizen-based, with each soldier providing his own equipment, Lagash’s professional military trains regularly, and is funded by the temples and government. A conquest may be expensive, but if it is ultimately victorious, more wealth can be brought to the city.

Trade:

Situated at the southeast intersection of the Tigris and Euphrates River, Lagash has a natural advantage of having access to the Persian Gulf. The strategic location allows Lagash to constantly and consistently trade with other civilizations situated towards the East, and as a result, Lagash’s various trade interests and their navy is more defined and advanced than its fellow city-states. Hunting seafood is a highly celebrated sport, and every year warriors would compete against each other to capture the largest creatures they can find. It was customary to sail all the way to the Arabian Sea to hunt, which bled into the far-reaching Indian Ocean as well.

Mesopotamia was generally devoid of natural resources such as wood, stone, and precious minerals.

Lagash needed to outsource many of their natural resources to enhance their military technology along with warship designs. While much of Mesopotamian city states used reeds to construct ships, Lagash would import wood from the Indus River Valley regions. Trade is an integral part of Lagash economy and commerce. There were scribes tasked with recording transactions, and merchants would often hire higher mercenaries to guard their travelling wagon to obstruct thieves. There were two major markets for Lagash, natural resources to live and advance in research and technology, but also vanity and luxury items meant to please the clergy.

17 Different city states had different styles of art and pottery and other crafts that were desirable.

Imported items from the East were also very special and rare.

Mesopotamia remained constantly in contact with the Egyptians for commercial benefits, as unlike their Egyptian counterparts who had the lush Nile, the Tigris and Euphrates rivers were unpredictable and sporadic with flooding. The Egyptians traded gold, papyrus, linen, grain, and sometimes they would sell artifacts stolen from a pharaoh's tomb. They would normally trade these items for cedar wood, ebony, ivory, lapis lazuli, incense, myrrh, iron, and copper. Trading was mainly done to better transportation and to develop civilization by creating more buildings.

Lagash also traded by land, using carts with durable wheels or simply camels. To trade for goods, the Mesopotamians used a system of barter. They used barley, lead, copper, bronze, tin, silver and gold to trade things they needed from their local area. You had to borrow barley from a barley banker and usually they charge a very high interest.

Military:

The Lagashi culture are extremely warrior-centric, and throughout history they have been in constant conflict with their neighbors, defending their land, or conquering more. While other city-states relied on their weak deities to bless their society, the Lagashi prayed to Ninurta, the god of war. Constant warfare meant the military of Lagash is amongst the strongest in the entire region. The constant warring has bred a society of military innovation and experience.

Lagash was one of the earliest militaries to employ organized structure within itself. In

2450 BCE, Lagash went into conflict with neighboring Umma over a border dispute. Going into battle, the Lagashi deployed small, well-disciplined spearman formations, similar to the famous

Greek Phalanx formation. Armed with javelins and short bronze swords, the formation easily

18 carried the army to victory, now immortalized by the glory of victory. In addition, the military uses bows, slingshots, and any other weapon a citizen can possess.

Although Lagash has a strong and disciplined army, the army mostly consisted of male citizens called into service by the priests or king. Citizens brought their own weapons, and protective armor was rare. The army did however contain a small number of professional soldiers whose purpose was to serve as the elite warriors of the city. The professional soldiers had access to more advanced military gear like chariots and armor. The military is neatly divided into multiple squadrons, with a Captains at the head of each squadron. The overarching leadership structure has a Commander and Deputy Commander on the very top, overlooking the

Squadron Captains, who are each supported by a Vice Captain. The squadrons are extremely competitive and have intense rivalries with each other, and many times politics can greatly ruin the dynamic within the military order.

Navy:

Throughout the ages, as Sumer became more militarized and fractured, the people of

Lagash began worshipping Ninurta, the god of agriculture, hunting, and war, as their patron deity. As worshippers of a warrior god, Lagash evolved into a society that highly values individual strength and power, as well as combat prowess. By far the highlight of the Lagash military was their navy. The largest ships reached 60 feet by 40 feet, with 3 masts and the base constructed with strong wooden planks. The head of the ship was armed with a ram constructed with wood, which would easily crash and break smaller and weaker reed made ships. Perhaps the greatest Lagash ingenuity was the use of large copper chains to bind together their large ships so large war chariots could be carried across the water. Ships usually travelled with a speed of 3-4

19 miles per hour in the intended direction. Lagash also developed an early form of the parachute.

Taking inspiration from their patron deity, who was often represented as a eagle and wings,

Lagash warriors would utilize the mountain ranges of Mesopotamia, with a shield in hand, and jump from the ranges with a cloth made parachute to assault the ground forces that were distracted by the ground forces below.

Lagash's navy is separated into 5 ranks, with slaves on the bottom and ship admirals on top. Slaves were mainly taken on top of ships to clean the decks and to cook for soldiers. Above the slaves in status were usually young recruits, aged between 16 and 21, that were learning the ways of navigation and real combat experience. Most of the time, these recruits have been training their entire adolescent lives, receiving combat training starting usually at the age of 9.

These young Lagashi would participate in hunting festivals and ceremonies and actively participate in tournaments hosted in honor of Ninurta. Depending on how the recruits behave and conduct themselves during live sailing and training exercises or any feats during actual combat, one can be promoted to become an officer. Officers held more responsibilities and were often tasked with managing new recruits, serving as a bridge between the recruits and Corporals.

Corporals often led a squadron of warriors into battle and were often very experienced combatants that have seen Many encounters and battles. Corporals have to report to commanders, which often headed three corporal leaf squadrons, who directly follow the orders of Admirals. Admirals dictate how their particular ship will function, meaning the war ships across the Lagash fleet vary in their culture.

Every ship will have at least one admiral, but no more than two co-leadership positions or a main and vice. Lagash also honors their best warriors with titles, with the title often associated with the name of the weapon that they have mastered. There is an immense warrior culture that

20 places fame and honor on the strongest and those with the best record. Many warriors bear shame from the conquest of the Akkadian Empire, and like the fractionated city and political center, the military has strong persuasiveness especially considering the threat of a coup.

There are 2 Imposters Among Us:

As explained in the religion section, the N’gha is the coming apocalypse divined by the

Priest Kudabala. Though Kudalaba himself is officially exiled, Kudabala’s followers remain within the walls of Lagash seeking to cause chaos and bring the end of times. The Cult of N’gha does not constitute a publicly known political faction, however, the nobles and the King are aware of Kudabala’s followers and are constantly tracking members of the cult. There are two members within this committee that are followers of Kudabala disguised as a member of either the Hawks, the Deers, or the Larks. These two cult members however will know the identity of each other but beware as the N’gha are actively trying to recruit new members to their organization. As you progress through the committee you need to assess who is truly trying to support and advance your cause, or are you simply fooled by the N’gha, using you to further their own agenda, of ending the world?

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Below are four points meant to help get you started on brainstorming solutions and strategies:

• While the current political party system seems to be set in stone, not every member of

this committee holds the same point of view, even amongst party lines. Some are more

extreme with their beliefs, while others are more moderate. Consider your character’s

own point of view and life story, who can you potentially work with outside of your party

to create more impactful and cooperative solutions?

• Consider Lagash’s geographic location and its accessibility to water trade routes and

other civilizations. What problems may arise? What are the advantages of Lagash’s

location? What are the disadvantages?

• In an Ancient World filled ruled by Gods, what are the unique ways to appease the gods

aside from sacrifices? Competition is fierce amongst the Sumerian city states, and many

times we need to look to the heavens for an advantage.

• What can we do to gain a competitive edge for our military, for offense? For defense?

What are potential methods to discover what the other city states are planning?

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