1. The Sumerians
Chapter 4, Lesson 1

2. The First Civilizations in Mesopotamia
River Valley Civilizations: Mesopotamia, Egypt, India and China.
What do they have in common?
Drinking water and crops.
Social classes based on occupations (jobs).
Governments to pass laws, defend land, and building projects.
Religions to bring meaning to their lives.

3. The Two Rivers Mesopotamia is located in what is now southern Iraq.
Earliest known civilization.
Name means “the land between the rivers.” in Greek.
It was between the Tigris and Euphrates river.
These rivers ran nearly parallel to each other.
Located at the Fertile Crescent.

5. Early Valley Dwellers Mesopotamia’s history was hidden away in rubble.
In the 1800’s archaeologist begin to dig up artifacts that reveal some information.
Began being settled around 7000 B.C.
First settlers were hunters and herders
By 4000 B.C. built farming villages along the two rivers.

6. Taming the Rivers
Mesopotamian farmers used water from both rivers to water their fields.
Could not always rely on rivers because summers produced little rain.
During the spring harvest, snow would melt from the mountains sometimes causing floods.
Floods were good because silt (particles of fine soil) would be deposited in the soil making it good for farming.

7. Taming the Rivers
Eventually they learned to build dams and canals to control floods.
Canals let water flow into the fields. This was known as irrigation (supply dry land with water.)
Irrigation allowed farmers to grow surpluses (extra amounts) of food.
Extra food stored for later use.
Plentiful food meant not everyone had to farm so others were able to become artisans.
By 3000 B.C. these small farming villages became cities.

8. Sumer’s Civilization Sumer’s people were known as Sumerians.
The first cities were Ur, Uruk, and Eridu in Southwest Asia.

9. City-States Arise
Sumer’s cities rarely interacted due to how difficult it was to travel.
Because of this, they grew their own food and controlled the lands around the cities.
These were City-States. The population was anywhere from 5,000 – 20,000 people.
There are theories that these cities were protected by giant walls surrounding the city.
Ruins and artifacts support these theories.
The ruler’s palace and other public buildings were located in the center of the city.

10. City-States Arise Sometimes these city-states went to war.
Wanted glory or to gain more territory.
Sometimes fought over resources too.
During times of peace they would trade with each other.
Also, formed alliances to protect common interest.

11. Gods, Priest, and Kings Polytheism – a belief in more than one god.
Each god played a different role in Sumerian life.
Some controlled actions and some controlled nature.
They honored gods that helped them achieve their tasks and goals.
Even though they honored all the gods, each city state claimed one as its own.
Ziggurat – A pyramid-shaped structure with a temple at the top.

12. Gods, Priest, and Kings
Ziggurat – A pyramid-shaped structure with a temple at the top.
Ziggurat means “to rise high” in the ancient Akkadian language.
The top was a God’s home.
Only special Priest could enter.
These priest usually ruled the city-states.
Important men sometimes helped rule.
Eventually they would become monarchies.

13. Gods, Priest, and Kings
Sumerian kings claimed they were given the right to rule from the gods.
More than likely were war heroes.
Sons would take over once the king died.
Wives had no political power but some controlled their own lands.

14. Social Groups
Upper Class – Kings, Warriors, Priest and government officials.
Middle Class – Merchants, farmers, fishers, and artisans.
Largest group of the social classes.
Lowest class – Enslaved people, criminals, and people who owed debt.
Probably captured from wars.

15. Social Groups The family was the basic unit of society.
Men – Head of the house.
Boys – went to school and were trained for a specific job.
Women – ran the home, taught their daughters to do the same, and raise children.
Sumerian law required parents to care for children.
Adult children also had to take care of the parents when needed.

16. Farmers and Traders
If you lived in Sumer you were most likely a farmer.
Each farmer had a plot of land located in areas around the city-state.
They grew wheat, barley, dates, and other major crops.
Also raised sheep, goats, and pigs.
Trade was a normal part of life.
Even though some were skilled metalworkers, they needed to trade for those metals.

17. Farmers and Traders
Trade routes would take them as far as India and Egypt.
Traded wheat, barley, and tools for timber, minerals and metals.
Minerals and metals were used for jewelry and tools.
India’s Indus Valley – carnelian.
Afghanistan – lapis lazuli
Present-day Turkey – iron and silver.

18. Sumerian Contributions
Sumerians created the first civilization that had a great influence on history..
Later civilizations copied and improved on their ideas and inventions that began in Sumer.
Mesopotamia has earned the nickname “cradle of civilization.
Beginning of organized human society.”

19. Writing This is probably the most important contribution to the world.
Earliest known a system of writing.
Used to keep records and pass on information.
Cuneiform – a system of writing developed by the Sumerians that used wedge-shaped marks made in soft clay.
1,200 different characters for names, physical objects, and numbers.
Wrote on clay because they had no paper.

20. Writing Scribes – official record keepers.
boys of wealthy families were usually scribes.
Tasked with recording everyday life from, court records, marriage contracts, business dealings, and important events. Some scribes were judges and government officials.
Told stories orally for centuries.
Stories would finally be recorded on tablets .
Stories usually praised gods and warriors for doing great deeds.

21. Writing The oldest known story in the world is from Sumer.
Written more than 4,000 years ago.
The story is called the Epic of Gilgamesh.
Epic – long poem that tells the story of a hero.

22. Technology and Mathematics
Sumerians were the first to use the wheel.
Built the first carts pulled by donkeys. We know this because of illustrations from 3500 B.C.
Introduced vehicles into military use with the invention of the chariot.
Invented sailboats, potter’s wheel, bronze, weapons and jewelry.

23. Technology and Mathematics
They studied mathematics and astronomy.
Used geometry to measure fields and to plan buildings.
They made a place value system using 60.
60-minute hours, 60-second minute, and 360-degree circle was created by them.
Watched the position of the stars to know when to plant crops and hold religious ceremonies.
They also made a 12 month calendar based on the cycles of the moon.