Download Chapter 3, Section 3 Contributions Inventions, customs, and ideas of

Chapter 3, Section 3
Contributions
Inventions, customs, and ideas of the Sumerian and Babylonian cultures were
copied and improved upon
Mesopotamia was called “the cradle of civilization
The Sumerians developed the earliest known civilization in the world
The oldest written records are Sumerian
They were the 1st people to write down their laws
The Sumerians invented many things:
1. Wheel
2. Plow
3. Sailboat
The wheel was invented to help with transportation
The plow made it possible for farmers to grow more food with less food
The sailboat replaced muscle power with wind power
The people of Mesopotamia developed a 12 month calendar based on the cycles
of the moon
The calendar marked religious festivals and planting
There also came contributions in mathematics from Mesopotamia
They created a number system based on 60
60 min hour, 60 sec minute, and 360 degree circle
they designed a clock that was operated by controlled drops of water