The Sumerians

Ancient Mesopotamia Scribes: professional writers New invention of writing: 4000 years ago Mesopotamia: Greek word that means “between the rivers” Fertile Crescent: a region in Southwest Asia that was the site of the world’s first civilization Rivers would flood-fertile soil

That’s my City-State! City-state: a city that is also a separate, independent state Ur, Uruk, Umma, Kish, Lagash Sumer was the size of Massachusetts

Five Things for a Civilization: 1) City states 2) specialized workers 3) Complex institutions (government, military, religious) 4) Record keeping: cuneiform 5) Advanced technologies

CunEIFORM Cuneiform: ancient writings of the Sumerians Used a stylus (like a pencil) Clay Tablet, would bake in the sun We can do it, too!

Oh My GoODness: Trivia! Polytheism: belief in many gods Sumerians had 3000! Enlil: god of the air and clouds Wicked udugs: the “bad” gods Women could have property (some/few were possibly taught writing at a young age) Story of Gilgamesh myth-story about gods that explain people’s beliefs