Chapter 3.3 “Life in Sumer” “Sumerian Society” –section 1 Sumerian society was divided into (3) unequal classes Upper Class- king & priests, landowners, officials, rich merchants In-Between Class- all other free people (farmers & artisans) Lowest Class- slaves Most slaves were taken as prisoners during war All social classes included women Women could become priestesses, own land, be artisans & merchants Their main role was raising children

“Sumerian Society & Technology“–section 2 Sumerians were great problem-solvers They invented the plow (6000 BC) and the wheel (3500 BC) The plow greatly improved farming production The wheel had many uses (transportation, pottery) Bronze tools were stronger, lasted longer, and stayed sharper They developed math to keep records of trade goods Time is based on their math & helped create calendars

“Creation of Written Language” – section 3 The growth of trade led to a need for the first writing system 3000 BC, writing was developed to keep business records The first Sumerian writing system was pictographs Pictographs stood for objects, ideas, and sounds Later, they developed a wedge-shaped writing called cuneiform Sumerian language contained about 600 symbols Highly respected scribes specialized in reading and writing Sumerian’s written history contains accounts of wars, floods, and reigns of their kings Other cultures adopted cuneiform writing