The Sumerians Civilizations first developed around 3000 BC

The Sumerians § Civilizations first developed around 3000 BC in the river valleys of Mesopotamia, Egypt, India, and China § Mesopotamia, the earliest known civilization developed in what is now southern Iraq. § Located between the Tigris and Euphrates River. § The Fertile Crescent includes parts of the modern countries of Turkey, Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, Israel and Jordan.

The Sumerians • Historians believe that people first settled Mesopotamia around 7000 BC • They learned how to adjust to their environment. ( During the spring harvest, rains and melting snow form the northern mountains caused rivers to overflow and flooding occurred). • Floods were helpful. The flooded rivers deposited silt, which was good for farming. • Over time, the people learned how to make dames to control the seasonal floods. They learned how to irrigate their crops • Farmers began to grow surpluses. • People began to start new specializations; weaving cloth, making pottery, weapons.

Sumerians By 3000 BC, several cities developed in Sumer, a region in southern Mesopotamia Sumer’s people were known as Sumerians Cities of Ur, Uruk and Eridu developed and became centers of civilizations.

Sumerians • The Sumerians cities were protected by mudflats and patches of desert. • Sumerians cities became independent. • The people of each city raised their own crops and made their own goods. • This is when city-states developed. • Scientists think that each Sumerian city-state was protected by a large city wall.

Sumerians Often, the city-states went to war with one another over resources and political borders. During time of peace, they traded with one another and formed alliances to protect common interest.

Sumerians • The Sumerians people worshipped many gods, a type of belief know as polytheism. • A city-state often included a large temple call a ziggurat. • Sumerians kings claimed they received their power to rule from the city’s god. The first kings were more likely war heroes. • Over time, their rule became hereditary.

Sumerians People were divided into social classes. Kings, priests, warriors, and government officials were part of the upper class. Merchants, farmers, artisans, and fishermen were part of the middle class. Enslaved people were if the lowest class.

Sumerians • Farmers were the largest group in the middle class • Trade was important part of Sumer’s economy • Sumerian merchants went to other lands to trade wheat, barley, and tools for timber, minerals, and metals.

Mesopotamia “Cradle of Civilization” • Writing was used call cuneiform that was composed of about 1200 characters • Only a few learned to read and write, usually the wealthy • After years of training, some students became scribes or official record keepers • Epic of Gilgamesh was an epic written about a hero • They were the first to use the wheel • They developed the sailboat • They invented the wooden plot • They were the first to make bronze/copper and tin • They used bronze to make tools, weapons, and jewelry. • Studied math and astronomy.