1. Sumer “Land Between Two Rivers” By: Lee Mayer, Morgan Bartlett, & Ben Scurry

2. Brief Early History Timeline 4000-1000 B.C. Sumerian Timeline 4000 Sumerians arrive in Mesopotamia. 3800 Sumerians supplant Ubaidians in Mesopotamia and start cities. 2800 Kish, the dominant city, 2700 Sumerian King, Gilgamesh, rules the city of Uruk. 2340 Sargon (a Sumerian in the city of Kish) overthrows the Sumerian king of Nippur. Sargon's new kingdom is called Akkad; Sargon extends his kingdom to Syria. 2320 Sargon conquers Sumer. 2230 Akkadian dynasty ends. 2150 Nomadic Gutians overruns Akkadians and Sumer, but Sumer revives. 2130 Sumer regains independence from Akkadian rule. 1950 Elamites from Zagros attack Sumer. 1753 Ammorite King Hammurabi conquers all of Sumer. Hammurabi rules to 1750. His empire lasts until 1600, when the Kassites conquer most of Mesopotamia. 1593 Hittites sack Babylon and end Hammurabi's dynasty. 1300 The Assyrians control all of Mesopotamia.

3. Map of the Sumerian Kingdom

4. Geographic Location & Climate North of the Persian Gulf between the Tigris & Euphrates. Being in between two rivers much of its land was fertile. But in other areas Sumer had deserts and mountains. The climate ranged from cold to hot through the year. The summers were very hot (110F). Sumer experienced moderate rainfall each year.

5. Sumerian Government During 3000-2316 B.C.E, Sargon the Great united all of Sumer under one city-state. Sumer was made up of a dozen cities which functioned as different states. Sumerian kings lived in beautiful palaces with many servants and slaves. Sumerians held public meetings where leaders were democratically chosen to over see public services, settle disputes, and handle issues affecting the city. If appointed officials were proven to be unworthy, the person was discharged from their position. A capable leader was chosen among the city to lead an army against an attack. Men who chose to stay in power became the new kings.

6. Notable Rulers Gilamesh 2600 B.C.E. He gained control of Sumer. Kubaba Only Sumerian Queen Sargon Conquered all of Sumer and made the north Mesopotamian city Agade, his new capital. Ur-Nammu General that founded the third dynasty of Ur. He began social reforms in Sumer. Utuhegal He defeated the Guitians, and gained control of Sumer. Etana Was the first to rule over all of Sumer in the city of Kish Shulgi Was Ur-Nammu’s son, and he devised the first legal code.

7. Military/Conquering The military of Sumer put up city walls that defended all of the cities. They were the first to use the military application of the wheel as a chariot. Some of the military’s weapons consisted of battle axes, daggers, and spears. For armor the regular infantry used copper helmets, felt cloaks, and leather kilts. Before the invention of the composite bow, Sumerians used slings and simple bows. Soldiers were well disciplined and maintained at all times. Slave soldiers were a small percentage.

8. Major Contributions Sumerians developed a writing system called cuneiform script. –This method of writing consisted of picture symbols representing an object such as the sun. In 2100 B.C.E. Ur-Nammu began social reforms to make Sumer a just society.He made it that traders and merchants used a fair and accurate system of weights and measures. Ur-Nammu’s son, Shulgi, devised the first legal code which defined the penalties to certain crimes. Sumerian astronomers studied the stars, and other scientists invented the calendar. Sumer is credited with inventing the wheel

9. Sumerian Religion Sumerians believed each village was protected by a particular god. At the center of each sumerian village there was its temple The sumerian built massive ziggurats- a massive pyramid- shaped terrace tower- with a temple of worship on top. Ziggurats had three to seven levels, or decks. Ziggurats were believed to connect heaven an earth. Religious rituals were conducted at the temple. At special times prayer were recited and hymns sung. A priesthood developed to ensure religious rites were carried out. Temples were both learning and spiritual centers of the community for the sumerians. Sumerian family members were buried in the foundations of their home. “An” the heaven god. “The father of Gods” Ki -”Mother Goddess” Ereshkigal – “Goddess and ruler of the underworld” Enbilulu- “God of the rivers”

10. Pictures