CityStates of Ancient Sumer World History Mr Hatch

City-States of Ancient Sumer World History Mr. Hatch

Geography of the Fertile Crescent • The Land Between the Rivers • Tigris • Euphrates • Floods and Irrigation • The Epic of Gilgamesh • Story of flood that destroys the world • The First Cities • 3200 B. C. First Sumerian city emerged • Sumerians made the first wheeled vehicles

Sumerian Civilization Government and Society • The ruler was seen as the chief servant of the gods • Hierarchy – System of ranks • Highest Class (ruling family, leading officials, and high priests) • Small Middle Class (lesser priests and scribes) • Middle class (merchants and artisans) • Peasant farmers (majority) • Slaves

Sumerian Civilization Sumerian Religion • Polytheistic • Highest duty was to keep these divine beings happy • Ziggurat – a pyramidtemple that soared toward the heavens • Like the Egyptians, the Sumerians believed in an afterlife – but they thought the underworld was a grim place

Advanced in Learning 3200 B. C. Sumerians invented cuneiform (wedge) • Priest kept record of goods brought to the Temple storehouse • Evolved into recording grain harvest • Myths, prayers, laws, treaties and business contracts • Scribes – had to go to school (religion, medicine, math, geography, astronomy and literature