1. The Sumerians

2. Mesopotamia Live in fertile valleys
Mesopotamia means “between the rivers”
Tigris and Euphrates

3. Beginnings of Sumer Called “the black-headed people”
Origins not entirely known
Dominated Semitic-speaking neighbors, leading to building of a civilization

4. City-States World’s first civilization 3500 B.C.E – 2000 B.C.E
3000 B.C.E form large city-states in southern Mesopotamia
City-states: Kish, Nippur, Umma, Lagash, Uruk, and Ur

5. Sumerian Religion Polytheistic Many gods controlled natural forces
Associated with astronomical forces

6. Gods Gods suffered all ravages human emotional and spiritual feelings
Believe that gods regret creation of human life
A flood was sent to destroy creation (Noah’s Ark)

7. Gods Cont.
Invented astrology to discover what gods had in store for them
Examined organs of sacrificed animals for secrets to the future

8. Sumerian Law Code of Hammurabi- reproduction of Sumerian law
Used law of lex talionis
Had courts of law
Victim and/or victim’s family enforced the sentence
Everyone wasn’t equal under the laws

9. Writing First kept record using tokens
Cuneiform invented in about 3000B.C.E
Wrote with stylus on clay tablets
550 wedged-shaped characters
Earliest known form of writing

10. Math and Science Number system based on 60
Developed basic algebra and geometry
Invented calendars divided into 12 months

11. City Layout Cities were often rectangular in shape
Surrounded by high, wide walls
Had broad avenues
Shop-lined streets that made up bazaar

12. Buildings Largest buildings were ziggurats
Each ziggurat had a shrine dedicated to a god or goddess
Rulers lived in beautiful palaces
Common people live in tiny houses

13. Economy and Trade Traded by land and boat
Main exports included textiles
Sumerian economy was based on agriculture

14. Sumerian Government
Developed one of the world’s first systems of monarchy
First ruled by priests
Priests ruled through a series of bureaucrats

15. Sumerian Classes Most people were farmers
Divided into 3 classes: upper, middle, and lower
In Sumerian class society, women still had rights, but were inferior to men

16. The Fall of Sumer
Sargon the Great led the Akkadians and invaded and conquered Sumer in 2330 B.C.E.
Sumerians briefly regained control
Amorites take over and Hammurabi becomes the leader of Babylon in 1792 B.C.E.

17. Social Institutions City States Social Hierarchy
Highest Classes: ruling family, officials, high priests
Middle Class- merchants, artisans, lesser priests and scribes

18. Social Institutions Lower Class- slaves
Peasant farmers made up majority
Slaves- in debt citizens or prisoners of war

19. Role of Women In charge of household Legal rights
Borrowed and loaned money
Owned property

20. Religion Polytheistic Believed it controlled nature
Gods behaved like ordinary people
Highest role in society was to keep gods happy
Made sacrifices
Celebrated holy days
Believed in afterlife

21. Cooperation and Conflict
Individual city states tried to dominate the region
The ages of empires began
Sargon for Akkad created first empire
Sumer was the first known Mesopotamian Society

22. Individuals & History Uruk Period
Kings were mythological figures named Aluim and Dumizid.
Kings ruled before the major flood.
Early Dynastic Period
Includes legendary figures such as Enmerkar and Gilgamesh.
Both figures ruled before the opening of historic record in 2700 C.E.
Earliest Dynastic king is Etana.
Etana was the 13th king of the first dynasty of Kish.
Etana was mentioned in the Gilgamesh epic.

23. Sumerian Decline Major shift in southern Iraq towards the north.
Agriculture was being compromised by Soil salinity.
Soil Salinity- slat content in the soil.
Agricultural yields reduced severely.
Shifted from wheat to barley.
Barley was not sufficient, population declined by 3/5ths.
Balance of power was weakened.
Sumer eventually only became a language.

24. City States Sumer was divided into 12 city-states.
Limits were defined by canals & boundary stones.
Each city state was centered around a temple dedicated to a particular god or goddess.
Ruled by a “priestly governor” (ensi) or a king (lugal)
First 5 City States
1. Eridu
2. Bad-tibira
3. Larsa
4. Sippar
5. Shuruppak

25. Cultural Development Sumerians invented picture-hieroglyphs
Later it developed into a new writing system called cuneiform.
Thousands of texts from the Sumerian language have survived-clay tablets.

26. Cultural Development
Sumer was a Polytheistic society-believed in more than one God.
Sumerian temples were called Ziggurats
Ziggurats were used for sacrifice and praise.
Sumerian agriculture depended heavily on irrigation.
Some examples of their crops include: barely, lentils, wheat, & lettuce.
They also raised cattle, pigs, sheep, and goats.

27. Technology & History Invented many important inventions: The wheel
Cuneiform
Arithmetic
Geometry
Irrigation
Important tools (ex. hammers, nails, hoes)
Sandals
Harpoons

28. Technology & History Reasons inventions were important:
Created new methods for food creation and farming.
Helped in the process of capturing animals and hunting.
The lunisolar calendar helped predict droughts and floods.
Inventions created have impacted our world for centuries.

29. Human Environment Interactions
They had to adapt to their surroundings
EX. Fertile land + Tigris and Euphrates river led them to start farming and create an irrigation system

30. Impact of Ideas
Cuneiform Writing- involved over 550 wedge shaped symbols
System of Numbers- developed a number system based on the unit 60. divided the hour into 60 minutes and the circle into 360 degrees
Astronomy- accurate calendars, which are essential to a farming society
Wheel- used first on things such as plows
Irrigation- method used in farming still used today

31. Government
For protection, people turned to courageous and resourceful war leaders. Over time, these war leaders evolved into hereditary rulers.
Each city-state, the ruler was responsible for maintaining the city walls and the irrigation systems,leading armies in war, and enforcing the laws.
As government grew more complex, he employed scribes to carry out functions such as collecting taxes and keeping records.
The ruler also had religious duties. He was seen as the chief servant of the gods and led ceremonies designed to please them.

32. Sumerian Fun Facts
Sumer was the first civilization on the Fertile Crescent.
There is a very high chance that you will use a Sumerian invention every day.
Sumerians called themselves sag-gi-ga meaning “the black headed people”

33. Basic Facts Located in southern Mesopotamia
Civilization rose around 3000 BCE
Population: 100,000

34. Kings List List of rulers of Ancient Sumer 16 copies
Late third millennium
Identical to the Eridu Genesis
Total of 11 royal cities
134 Kings
28,876+N years, N months, and N days

35. Kings List Some rulers include Alulim: ruled for 28,800 years in Eridu
Enmen-lu-ana: ruled for 43,200 years in Bad-tioira
En-sipad-zid-aa: ruled for 28,800 years in Larak
Enmen-dur-ana: ruled for 21,000 years in Sippar
Ubara-Tutu: ruled for 18,600 years in Suruppak

36. Gods Nine Gods Responsible for the unknown
Every city-state had their own god
Lived in Ziggurat

37. Gods They were Nammu: goddess of the primeval sea An: god of heavens
Ki: goddess of the earth
Enlil: god of air and storms
Utu: sun god
Ninhursag: mother earth
Enki: god of water and wisdom
Inanna: goddess of love and war
Ereshkigal: godess of darkness, gloom, and death

38. Beliefs Called space the “great domed roof”
Thought it contained the sky, stars, moon, and sun
Sun lighted cities beneath

39. Beliefs Netherworld=Underworld Netherworld was underneath Earth
Were demons and the kingdom of dead

40. Economy Relied on agriculture and trade
Sumer was irrigated by canals & dams, which watered the fields to grow crops
Traded the crops and textiles they made with other people
Mainly Asia-Minor and Iran

41. Economy When they traded, they received: Brought back goods to Sumer
Stone
Metal
Timbers
Brought back goods to Sumer
Used goods to make items of their own for trade
Trade it with others groups

42. Cuneiform Cuneiform: Latin for “wedged shaped”
Earliest known invention of writing
Stylus: triangle-shaped; made imprints in clay
used:
Keep records of businesses, taxation, and production figures
Epics, myths, essays, poetry, and education texts

43. Jobs
Pottery makers, stone cutters, bricklayers, metal smiths, farmers, fishers, shepherds, weavers, leather workers, sailors

44. Inventions
Wheel
Iron
Engraving
Bleaching/dying

45. Homes Huts from bundles of reeds Built by sun-baked bricks
Had shortage of stone

46. Mathematics Had first known math system called “sexagesimal”
360 degree circle
12-inch foot
A dozen
12 month calender

47. Metal Started the age of metal Learned to melt & mold it
Used for weaponry and tools

48. Medicine Started to use medicines Had earliest surgeons & doctors
Symbols for Sumerian medicine

49. Boats Made some of the first boats Used for easy transportation
Skin boats
Sail boats
Wooden oar boats
Used for easy transportation
People
Goods
cattle

50. Tools saws Chisels Hammers Braces Bits Nails Rings Hoes Axes Knives
Arrows
Swords
Glue
Daggers
armors
Water skins
Bags
Harnesses
Harpoons
Quivers
scabbards

51. Constellations
Many were mapped by the Sumerians

52. Social Classes In Sumer there were three different social classes.
The Upper class consists of nobles, priests, and government officials.
Merchants , traders and artisans made up the middle class, Freeman Class
The Lowest class were slaves.

53. Education
Sumerians studied literacy , botany, zoology, mathematics and geology
An education was open to any one who could afford it, boys or girls.
Many students went through school to become scribes, record keepers.
A scribe’s work

54. Architecture Sumerians used adobe bricks for the houses and buildings.
Ziggurats, religious temples, are some of the most famous architecture in Sumer.

55. Clothing Sumerians used wool and flax for clothing
Men usually wore a skirt tied around their waist and women wore long gowns.
Wealthy Sumerians wore bright colors and expensive materials.
Both men and women wore necklaces and earrings during celebrations.

56. Bibliography
Ancient Mesopotamia: Sumer Clothing. 11/12/08. Ancient Mesopotamia. -mesopotami.htm> Jones, Tom B. Sumerian Economy. Unknown. November 9, < Jones, Tom B. Sumerian Religion. Unknown. November 9, < Lendering, Jona. Sumerian King List. May 10, November 13,

57. Bibliography
Sienkewicz, Thomas J. The Encyclopedia of the Ancient World. Pasedina, California: Salem Press, Inc. 2002
Sumerian Education & Literature. 11/12/08. Sumer, The Age of God King. <
Sumerian Science. 11/12/08. Crystalinks. <
Sumerian Social Classes. 11/12/08. Crystalinks. <
Unknown. Sumerian Economy and Trade. Unknown. November 9, <
Unknown. Sumerian Social Classes. June 5, November 12,
Unknown. The Sumerian Civilization Part 2. Unknown. November 13, <

58. Bibliography
Wikipedia. November 8th, 2008
Road Runner November 9th , 2008
Tim Lambert. “The Sumerians.” Google. Unknown. November 9th, 2008

59. Bibliography “Sumer” by John A. Brinkman, The World Book Encyclopedia
Class notes by Mr. Aldworth