nd easily approached from any direction. Thus the region was not susceptible to rule by any one power and such domination was only ever achieved at the cost of almost constant warfare.
The history of ancient Mesopotamia was, therefore, characterized by continuous upheavals as one group displaced another with great regularity. The degree of continuity in the art and architecture of the region is really very surprising considering the political chaos that existed for thousands of years. But this is explained in part by the ability of some of the various invaders to assimilate the styles of previous rulers and build on them. In Egypt, however, relatively consistent styles of art and architecture enjoyed the longest run of any historic civilization. The institution of the divine kingship, despite periods of stress and decline, persisted for centuries because it had such long periods in which its domination was barely challenged.
3. Extant Neolithic art and architecture of the Near East is primarily religious in orientation.
...