Food and culinary culture in Ancient Mesopotamia

From past to present, people have engaded in many activities, especially agriculture and animal husbandry, in order to meet rotten nutrients. The climatic and ground conditions of the places where people live have shaped their food and culinary cultures. The techniques used in agriculture and animal husbandry have become more and location conditions of the places where people live cease to shape their food and culinary cultures. The techniques used in agriculture and animal husbandry have become more advanced and people have begun to Access food more easily. Many ancient civilizations were established in the Mesopotamia region, which has an important place in the history of world civilization. The civilizations that stand out among these are the Sumerian, Assyrian and Babylonian societies. Information about the food and culinary cultures of these three ancient civilizations can be obtained by translating cuneiform tablets and examining the ruins found in archaeological studies. However, work n this field is progressing slowly due to the brokenness of some of the tablets available, the difficulties in reading the alphabets, and the mistakes of the scribes who wrote the texts on the tablets. However, there is a high probability that there are stil unavaible tablets. In the light of available information, it has been seen that Ancient Mesopotamian societies consumed many types of fruits, vegetables, spices, legumes, meat, fish, bread and beverages and used these foods in their meals. The common people had the opportunity to Access many dishes from time to time at the banquets organized by the kings, on festivals and holidays. Food and culinary culture has also found a place in the world of faith. Religious rules have affected food and culinary cultures. In ancient Mesopotamia, people sacrificed the best food and drinks to the gods they believed in. Fruits, vegetables, bread, wine, beer and meat dishes offered to the gods were believed to be sacred and presentations were made accompained by various rituals. Another use of food and beverages in ancient Mesopotamian civilizations was in the field of medicine. Some foods and drinks were believed to be medicinal and many medicines were made using them. Detailed descriptions of the use of these products are given in the prescriptions included in the tablets.