1. Was Ancient Sumer a Civilization? By studying artifacts, archeologists have learned a lot about Sumer.

2. Characteristics of Civilizations Characteristics of Civilization Technology The Arts Writing Stable Food Supply Social Culture Government Religion

3. Characteristics of Civilization Stable Food Supply-People of a society have the food they need to survive Social Structure-Different social levels and jobs System of Government-Life in the society is orderly Religious System-Set of beliefs and forms of worship Highly developed culture-Includes arts (painting), architecture, music and literature Advances in technology Highly developed written language

4. Stable Food Supply Sumerians invented two things to help them create a stable food supply Irrigation system-System of canals and reservoirs allowed Sumerian farmers to regularly water their crops Plow-The plow helped farmers prepare the soil for planting, making farming faster and producing more food

5. Social Structure A social structure includes different jobs and social levels People at higher levels have greater status than others Upper class: Priests, landowners, and government officials had the nicest homes and lived in the center of the city

6. Social Structure Middle: Merchants and artisans made and sold tools and luxury items. Farmers and fishers lived in small houses at the edge of the city, and farmers served in the army Bottom: Slaves had no property and lived with their owners

7. Government All civilizations have a system of government to direct people’s behaviors and make life orderly. Sumerians believed that their kings were chosen by the gods. King & Government duties: recording and enforcing laws, collecting taxes, building temples, maintaining and patrolling irrigation canals, and leading the army

8. Government Leading the army=King’s most important job Army=professional soldiers, temporary citizen soldiers. Some were foot soldiers, some drove chariots Kings had governors to help Scribes helped record laws Sumerians-1 st to develop a system of written laws

9. Religion A religious system includes worship practices and a set of beliefs Religion was important in Sumer because it influenced every part of daily life Ziggurats-Religious towers, made of mud bricks, believed gods lived in ziggurats Sumerians had many religious statues and had many kinds of religious ceremonies

10. The Arts Metalworkers-Created practical and decorative items Architects-Designed temples and ziggurats Musicians-played instruments and sang during ceremonies Sumerians believed music brought joy to the people and to the gods

11. Technology Sumerians made several technological advances Most important invention: Wheel. Wheeled carts made it easier to move goods over long distances Arch-added strength and beauty to Sumerian buildings. Great architectural achievement

12. Writing Cuneiform-writing that uses wedge shaped characters Cuneiform developed around 2400 BCE Cuneiform was based on pictographs Pictograph-A symbol that stands for an object