1. Sumerian Achievements

2. Cuneiform World’s first writing system Written on clay tablets
everyone understands
Written way to communicate
Written on clay tablets
Wedge-shaped writing
Written with stylus

3. Epics Long poems that tell the story of heroes Epic of Gilgamesh
Most famous and complete Sumerian Epic
Tells the story of King Gilgamesh and his many adventures

4. Sumerian Wheel Originally invented to be a potter’s wheel
Used to make pottery much easier
Became useful in carts and wagons
Eventually used on chariots for war

5. Bronze Plow Originally plows were wooden
Bronze Plow allowed much faster and easier field preparation for farming
Could be hooked to animals to be pulled
Today plows are hooked to tractors

6. 12 Month Calendar
Sumerian Calendar was created to keep up with planting and harvesting times
Had 354 Days
Based on the cycles of the moon
Much like many ancient calendars

7. Math Math system was based on the number 60
Calculated circle as 360 degrees
60 minute hour
60 second minute
Division and Multiplication System

8. Bronze Mixture of Copper and Tin
Stronger and longer lasting than either metal by itself
Used to make tools, weapons, and jewelry

9. Sailboat Used to travel on rivers and beyond Had square sails
Sails could not be turned, so if wind was not blowing the direction they wanted to go, they had to paddle

10. Maps Created maps with city-state usually in the middle of the map
Representing the middle of the earth
Only mapped what they knew was nearby

11. Architecture Science of building buildings
Used mud-bricks in Sumer and throughout Mesopotamia
Ziggurats
Huge temples to honor the gods

12. Time Keeping Sundial Water Clock
Used the position of the sun to keep time
Water Clock
Kept track of how much time has passed
Similar to an hourglass but uses water instead of sand