Download The Sumerians

The Sumerians
The Black haired people
An advanced society
• Sumerians first settled in Mesopotamia
c.3000BC
• Considered the 1st advanced society in the
world
Lifestyle in Sumer
• Most people were farmers who lived in
rural areas
• Center of Sumerian society was located in
urban, or city areas
• City-state is the city and countryside
around it
• The size of the city-state depended on the
size of the military
Sumerian City-State
Early Sumerian Rival
• The Akkadians were a society located
north of Sumer in Mesopotamia.
• At first the two were friendly with
each…..but friendships never last.
• Sargon the Great was an Akkadian ruler
who defeated the Sumerians and created
the 1st Mesopotamian empire.
• This was accomplished because he was
the 1st to have a standing army.
The Fall of the Akkadians
• Sargon ruled for 50 years before his
death.
• The empire did not last without its great
leader…This seems to be a reoccurring
theme in the fall of empires.
• With the fall of the Akkadians, the
Sumerians once again became the most
powerful civilization in the region.
Sumerian Society
• Religion was the most important aspect of
Sumerian culture.
• The Sumerians were polytheistic (worship
of many gods).
• They worshipped elemental gods and
goddesses...earth, wind, water, and fire
The gods must be crazy!
• The Sumerians believed the gods had
enormous powers.
• They believed if they pleased the gods
then in turn the gods would bestow good
harvest, health, and wealth upon them…In
other words, please the gods and you will
be successful.
Sumerian Social Hierarchy
King
Priests
Craftspeople,
Merchants,
and Traders
Farmers and laborers (working class)
Slaves
Gender Roles
•
•
•
•
Men
Held political power
Made laws
Were more educated
Usually had religious
positions (priests)
Women
• Took care of the
home and children
• If part of the upper
class could be
educated as well
• Few had religious
positions (priestess)