Comparative Study on Urbanization Development of Uruk and Zhengzhou Shang City

Zhehao Han

doi:10.54254/2753-7064/2025.LC26707

Communications in Humanities ResearchOpen access

Comparative Study on Urbanization Development of Uruk and Zhengzhou Shang City

Research Article

Open Access

Comparative Study on Urbanization Development of Uruk and Zhengzhou Shang City

Zhehao Han ^1*

¹ Zhengzhou Normal University

^*Corresponding author: hanzhehao20031104@gmail.com

Published on 9 September 2025

CHR Vol.76

ISSN (Print): 2753-7072

ISSN (Online): 2753-7064

ISBN (Print): 978-1-80590-146-4

ISBN (Online): 978-1-80590-284-3

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Abstract

As the capital of the Early Shang civilization, Zhengzhou Shang City is crucial for studying Shang civilization and early Chinese urban development. Uruk, founded by the Sumerians, is recognized as the world’s first true city. Comparing Zhengzhou Shang City and Uruk in terms of geography, urban planning, and artifacts reveals that differing environments led to distinct agricultural and cultural practices. Zhengzhou Shang City, influenced by kingship, featured high walls and large palace complexes, reflecting royal authority and ritual systems, while Uruk’s temple-centered layout highlights religion’ s central role. Excavated artifacts from both sites further illustrate differences in materials, production, and usage. Although both cities emerged from river civilizations on alluvial plains, Uruk developed around religious and natural needs with mixed functions, whereas Zhengzhou Shang City was shaped by political power and cultural integration, resulting in a highly planned metropolis. These contrasts reveal divergent paths of religious and royal dominance in early urbanization and highlight the diversity of early city development.

Keywords:

Zhengzhou Shang City, Uruk, Urban Development, Great River Civilization

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References

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References

[2]. Uruk: first city of the ancient world [M]. Getty Publications, 2019.

[3]. Yang, Yubin: Archaeology of Henan, Zhongzhou Ancient Books Publishing House 1985, p. 96

[4]. Yang, J. (2021). The Functions of Early Cities in the Two River Basin Region

[5]. https: //www.163.com/dy/article/FVGNEMLS05346936.html

[6]. Algaze, G. The end of prehistory and the Uruk period [M]//The Sumerian World. Routledge, 2013: 68-94.

[7]. Fassbinder J W E. Beneath the Euphrates Sediments: Magnetic Traces of the Mesopotamian Megacity Uruk-Warka [J]. Anc. East ANE Today, 2020, 8.

[8]. Li Z. The Formation and Role of the Sumerian Post System [J]. World History, 2021, (01): 93-103+155.

Cite this article

Han,Z. (2025). Comparative Study on Urbanization Development of Uruk and Zhengzhou Shang City. Communications in Humanities Research,76,16-21.

Data availability

The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study will be available from the authors upon reasonable request.

About volume

Volume title: Proceedings of ICADSS 2025 Symposium: Art, Identity, and Society: Interdisciplinary Dialogues

ISBN: 978-1-80590-146-4(Print) / 978-1-80590-284-3(Online)

Editor: Ioannis Panagiotou, Yanhua Qin

Conference website: https://2025.icadss.org/Lincoln.html

Conference date: 22 August 2025

Series: Communications in Humanities Research

Volume number: Vol.76

ISSN: 2753-7064(Print) / 2753-7072(Online)

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