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The Sumerians
Chapter 4, Lesson 1
The First Civilizations in
Mesopotamia
River Valley Civilizations: Mesopotamia, Egypt, India
and China.
► What do they have in common?
 Drinking water and crops.
 Social classes based on occupations (jobs).
 Governments to pass laws, defend land, and
building projects.
 Religions to bring meaning to their lives.
The Two Rivers
► Mesopotamia
is located in what is now southern
Iraq.
 Earliest known civilization.
 Name means “the land between the rivers.” in
Greek.
► It was between the Tigris and Euphrates river.
 These rivers ran nearly parallel to each other.
► Located at the Fertile Crescent.
Early Valley Dwellers
► Mesopotamia’s
history was hidden away in
rubble.
► In the 1800’s archaeologist begin to dig up
artifacts that reveal some information.
 Began being settled around 7000 B.C.
 First settlers were hunters and herders
 By 4000 B.C. built farming villages along the
two rivers.
Taming the Rivers
► Mesopotamian
farmers used water from both
rivers to water their fields.
► Could not always rely on rivers because
summers produced little rain.
► During the spring harvest, snow would melt
from the mountains sometimes causing floods.
► Floods were good because silt (particles of fine
soil) would be deposited in the soil making it
good for farming.
Taming the Rivers
Eventually they learned to build dams and canals to
control floods.
 Canals let water flow into the fields. This was
known as irrigation (supply dry land with
water.)
► Irrigation allowed farmers to grow surpluses (extra
amounts) of food.
 Extra food stored for later use.
► Plentiful food meant not everyone had to farm so
others were able to become artisans.
► By 3000 B.C. these small farming villages became
cities.
►
Sumer’s Civilization
► Sumer’s
people were known as Sumerians.
► The first cities were Ur, Uruk, and Eridu in
Southwest Asia.
City-States Arise
Sumer’s cities rarely interacted due to how difficult it
was to travel.
► Because of this, they grew their own food and
controlled the lands around the cities.
 These were City-States. The population was
anywhere from 5,000 – 20,000 people.
► There are theories that these cities were protected
by giant walls surrounding the city.
 Ruins and artifacts support these theories.
► The ruler’s palace and other public buildings were
located in the center of the city.
►
City-States Arise
► Sometimes
these city-states went to war.
 Wanted glory or to gain more territory.
 Sometimes fought over resources too.
► During times of peace they would trade with
each other.
► Also, formed alliances to protect common
interest.
Gods, Priest, and Kings
► Polytheism
– a belief in more than one god.
 Each god played a different role in Sumerian
life.
 Some controlled actions and some controlled
nature.
 They honored gods that helped them achieve
their tasks and goals.
 Even though they honored all the gods, each
city state claimed one as its own.
► Ziggurat – A pyramid-shaped structure with a
temple at the top.
Gods, Priest, and Kings
► Ziggurat
– A pyramid-shaped structure with a
temple at the top.
 Ziggurat means “to rise high” in the ancient
Akkadian language.
 The top was a God’s home.
 Only special Priest could enter.
 These priest usually ruled the city-states.
► Important men sometimes helped rule.
► Eventually they would become monarchies.
Gods, Priest, and Kings
► Sumerian
kings claimed they were given the
right to rule from the gods.
 More than likely were war heroes.
 Sons would take over once the king died.
 Wives had no political power but some
controlled their own lands.
Social Groups
► Upper
Class – Kings, Warriors, Priest and
government officials.
► Middle Class – Merchants, farmers, fishers, and
artisans.
 Largest group of the social classes.
► Lowest class – Enslaved people, criminals, and
people who owed debt.
 Probably captured from wars.
Social Groups
The family was the basic unit of society.
► Men – Head of the house.
► Boys – went to school and were trained for a
specific job.
► Women – ran the home, taught their daughters to
do the same, and raise children.
► Sumerian law required parents to care for children.
 Adult children also had to take care of the
parents when needed.
►
Farmers and Traders
► If
you lived in Sumer you were most likely a
farmer.
 Each farmer had a plot of land located in
areas around the city-state.
 They grew wheat, barley, dates, and other
major crops.
 Also raised sheep, goats, and pigs.
► Trade was a normal part of life.
► Even though some were skilled metalworkers,
they needed to trade for those metals.
Farmers and Traders
► Trade
routes would take them as far as India
and Egypt.
 Traded wheat, barley, and tools for timber,
minerals and metals.
 Minerals and metals were used for jewelry
and tools.
 India’s Indus Valley – carnelian.
 Afghanistan – lapis lazuli
 Present-day Turkey – iron and silver.
Sumerian Contributions
► Sumerians
created the first civilization that had a
great influence on history..
 Later civilizations copied and improved on their
ideas and inventions that began in Sumer.
► Mesopotamia has earned the nickname “cradle of
civilization.
 Beginning of organized human society.”
Writing
► This
is probably the most important contribution
to the world.
 Earliest known a system of writing.
► Used to keep records and pass on information.
► Cuneiform – a system of writing developed by
the Sumerians that used wedge-shaped marks
made in soft clay.
 1,200 different characters for names, physical
objects, and numbers.
 Wrote on clay because they had no paper.
Writing
► Scribes
– official record keepers.
 boys of wealthy families were usually scribes.
► Tasked with recording everyday life from, court
records, marriage contracts, business dealings,
and important events. Some scribes were judges
and government officials.
► Told stories orally for centuries.
 Stories would finally be recorded on tablets .
 Stories usually praised gods and warriors for
doing great deeds.
Writing
► The
oldest known story in the world is from
Sumer.
► Written more than 4,000 years ago.
► The story is called the Epic of Gilgamesh.
► Epic – long poem that tells the story of a hero.
Technology and Mathematics
► Sumerians
were the first to use the wheel.
► Built the first carts pulled by donkeys. We know
this because of illustrations from 3500 B.C.
► Introduced vehicles into military use with the
invention of the chariot.
► Invented sailboats, potter’s wheel, bronze,
weapons and jewelry.
Technology and Mathematics
They studied mathematics and astronomy.
► Used geometry to measure fields and to plan
buildings.
► They made a place value system using 60.
 60-minute hours, 60-second minute, and 360degree circle was created by them.
► Watched the position of the stars to know when to
plant crops and hold religious ceremonies.
► They also made a 12 month calendar based on the
cycles of the moon.
►