Pottery

“The nation that destroys its soil destroys itself.” — Franklin D. Roosevelt

Once humanity learned to grow food, it needed a way to store it. The shaping and firing of clay into durable vessels solved this problem and opened the door to long-term food preservation, trade, and the accumulation of wealth.

Unlocks

• Buildings: Granary
• Wonders: Hanging Gardens

Historical Background

The earliest known pottery dates to around 20,000 BCE in East Asia, where clay figurines were fired in open bonfires. However, the widespread adoption of functional pottery vessels coincided with the rise of agriculture around 7,000-6,000 BCE, when farming communities needed reliable containers for storing grain, fermenting beverages, and cooking food.

The development of the potter’s wheel around 3,500 BCE in Mesopotamia revolutionised production, allowing standardised vessels to be produced quickly and in quantity. Pottery became one of the earliest traded goods, and distinctive styles help archaeologists trace ancient trade routes and cultural exchanges across vast distances. The humble clay pot was, in many ways, the foundation upon which surplus economies were built.