Chapter 5 Sumer Based in Ur, in southern Mesopotamia 3,500 BCE – farming villages By 3,000 BCE, most Sumerians lived in city-states Faced problems of food shortages, uncontrolled water supply

Sumerian Inventions Wheel Potter’s wheel Plow Cuneiform writing First written laws Complex irrigation systems Walled cities Arch in construction Ziggurats Faced problems of food shortages, uncontrolled water supply

Sumerians conquered problems of: Food shortages Uncontrolled water supply Cooperatively building and maintaining irrigation systems Attacks from neighbors over water rights Faced problems of food shortages, uncontrolled water supply

Sumerian Civilization Stable food supply Irrigation systems, plow Social structure: three social classes Upper class: priests, land owners, gov’t officials Middle class: farmers, merchants, craftspeople Lower class: slaves Government: King led army, enforced laws, collected taxes Government officials included scribes and canal patrols Stable food supply Irrigation systems, plow Social structure: three social classes Upper class: priests, land owners, gov’t officials Upper class had two story houses, luxury items Middle class: farmers, merchants, craftspeople Craftspeople included skilled metal workers Lower class: slaves Government: King led army, enforced laws, collected taxes Government officials included scribes and canal patrols

Sumerian Signs of Civilization Religion Worshipped in Ziggurats Created lifelike statues in worshipful poses Arts Musicians played lyres Technology Wheel, potter’s wheel, arch Writing Cuneiform went from 2,000 to 700 symbols Based on earlier pictographs Religion Worshipped in Ziggarauts Created lifelike statues in worshipful poses Arts Musicians played lyres Technology Wheel, potter’s wheel, arch Writing Cuneiform went from 2,000 to 700 symbols