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The Sumerians
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Mesopotamia Live in fertile valleys
Mesopotamia means “between the rivers” Tigris and Euphrates
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Beginnings of Sumer Called “the black-headed people”
Origins not entirely known Dominated Semitic-speaking neighbors, leading to building of a civilization
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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
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Sumerian Religion Polytheistic Many gods controlled natural forces
Associated with astronomical forces
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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)
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Gods Cont. Invented astrology to discover what gods had in store for them Examined organs of sacrificed animals for secrets to the future
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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
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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
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Math and Science Number system based on 60
Developed basic algebra and geometry Invented calendars divided into 12 months
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City Layout Cities were often rectangular in shape
Surrounded by high, wide walls Had broad avenues Shop-lined streets that made up bazaar
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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
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Economy and Trade Traded by land and boat
Main exports included textiles Sumerian economy was based on agriculture
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Sumerian Government Developed one of the world’s first systems of monarchy First ruled by priests Priests ruled through a series of bureaucrats
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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
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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.
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Social Institutions City States Social Hierarchy
Highest Classes: ruling family, officials, high priests Middle Class- merchants, artisans, lesser priests and scribes
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Social Institutions Lower Class- slaves
Peasant farmers made up majority Slaves- in debt citizens or prisoners of war
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Role of Women In charge of household Legal rights
Borrowed and loaned money Owned property
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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
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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
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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.
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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.
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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
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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.
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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.
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Technology & History Invented many important inventions: The wheel
Cuneiform Arithmetic Geometry Irrigation Important tools (ex. hammers, nails, hoes) Sandals Harpoons
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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.
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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
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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
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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.
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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”
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Basic Facts Located in southern Mesopotamia
Civilization rose around 3000 BCE Population: 100,000
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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
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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
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Gods Nine Gods Responsible for the unknown
Every city-state had their own god Lived in Ziggurat
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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
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Beliefs Called space the “great domed roof”
Thought it contained the sky, stars, moon, and sun Sun lighted cities beneath
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Beliefs Netherworld=Underworld Netherworld was underneath Earth
Were demons and the kingdom of dead
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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
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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
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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
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Jobs Pottery makers, stone cutters, bricklayers, metal smiths, farmers, fishers, shepherds, weavers, leather workers, sailors
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Inventions Wheel Iron Engraving Bleaching/dying
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Homes Huts from bundles of reeds Built by sun-baked bricks
Had shortage of stone
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Mathematics Had first known math system called “sexagesimal”
360 degree circle 12-inch foot A dozen 12 month calender
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Metal Started the age of metal Learned to melt & mold it
Used for weaponry and tools
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Medicine Started to use medicines Had earliest surgeons & doctors
Symbols for Sumerian medicine
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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
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Tools saws Chisels Hammers Braces Bits Nails Rings Hoes Axes Knives
Arrows Swords Glue Daggers armors Water skins Bags Harnesses Harpoons Quivers scabbards
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Constellations Many were mapped by the Sumerians
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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.
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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
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Architecture Sumerians used adobe bricks for the houses and buildings.
Ziggurats, religious temples, are some of the most famous architecture in Sumer.
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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.
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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,
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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, <
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Bibliography Wikipedia. November 8th, 2008 Road Runner November 9th , 2008 Tim Lambert. “The Sumerians.” Google. Unknown. November 9th, 2008
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Bibliography “Sumer” by John A. Brinkman, The World Book Encyclopedia
Class notes by Mr. Aldworth
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