Download Sumer - wallerworldhistory

Sumer
3500 B.C. ended 1900 B.C.
WHICH IS THE MOST IMPORTANT
Facts on the Sumerians!
• 1st known civilization in what is today Iraq
• Sumer means “Land of the Lords of Brightness”
• One of the earliest urban societies to emerge in
the world
• They developed a writing system called
cuneiform
• Invented the wheel
• Developed basic algebra and geometry
• Set up calendars based on the moon (12
months)
• Devised methods of irrigation and flood control
• Invented the umbrella = palm fronds to protect
from the sun!
• 1st form of monarchy
Mesopotamia “Between the rivers” The
Fertile Crescent = good farmland
Why people came? Who were they?
• Settled b/c people were fleeing war,
overpopulation, poor climate
• Migrated from central Asia
• These people built world’s 1st civilization
and 1st cities that reached its height before
the Egyptians!
Sumerian City-states
• Built 12 city-states
• Main ones Ur, Uruk, Eridu
• Population range from 20,000 to 250,000
with common culture, language, religion
Sumerian Government
• Council of nobles and assembly of citizens
• Later due to foreign threats wanting
land/water rights city-states chose a military
leader then to KINGS (hereditary)
• Kings were the military leader and high priest
• High priest = city-state’s deity
• Most punishment were fines not loss of limbs
or life
Sumerian Family
• Law regulated family life and outlined the
roles of men/women
1. men had great authority over the family
2. Men could sell his wife or children into
slavery if he needed to pay off debt
3. Divorce wife for the slightest cause
4. But women could buy/sell property & own
businesses & own/sell slaves
Sumerian Schools