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Sumerian Civilization

Sumerian Civilization. Sumerian Civilization: The Basics. Where: Middle East, modern-day Iraq When: around 3300 BC What: One of the River Valley civilizations Famous for: being the first civilization, Epic of Gilgamesh, cuneiform, ziggurats, and developing astronomy and mathematics.

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Sumerian Civilization

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  1. Sumerian Civilization

  2. Sumerian Civilization: The Basics • Where: Middle East, modern-day Iraq • When: around 3300 BC • What: One of the River Valley civilizations • Famous for: being the first civilization, Epic of Gilgamesh, cuneiform, ziggurats, and developing astronomy and mathematics

  3. Mesopotamia • Mesopotamia is part of a larger area called the Fertile Crescent • “Mesopotamia” literally means “land between the rivers” • Rivers: Tigris and Euphrates • These rivers made the land very rich and good for farming

  4. Controlling the Water • The Tigris and Euphrates flooded regularly, which the people had to plan for and control for their survival • During the dry season, irrigation systems had to be set up to bring water to the fields • Officials organized projects to build ditches and dikes for the water • The Epic of Gilgamesh told of a worldwide flood, so we know floods were part of their lives

  5. Sumerian Cities • Mesopotamia lacked natural resources like timber (wood) or stone to build with, so buildings were made of clay (bricks) • Two great cities of Sumer were Ur and Uruk • Trade with other areas helped make Sumerian cities rich • The rivers were used for trade • Sumerians used wheeled vehicles to travel across land • Some travelled as far away as Egypt and India!

  6. City-States • 12 separate city-states made up Sumer • People were loyal to their city-state and fought with other city-states for control of land and water • War leaders offered protection; hereditary role • Responsibilities of the Ruler of each City-State: • Maintain city walls and irrigation systems • Led armies in war • Enforce laws • Employed scribes to collect taxes and keep records • Chief servant of the gods and led religious ceremonies

  7. Social Hierarchy in Sumer

  8. Religion • Polytheistic (worship many gods) • Believed gods… • controlled every aspect of life, especially the forces of nature (like the floods) • had families, ate, partied, etc. like ordinary people • favored truth and justice • Could cause violence and suffering • Built ziggurats (large buildings) • Dedicated them to gods and goddesses • Used them to celebrate holy days • Believed in a depressing afterlife

  9. Writing • Earliest known writing was invented by Sumerians in 3200 BC • Later called cuneiform, which means “wedge” • Used pictographs to represent goods brought to the store and then later individual sounds (so that words and complex thoughts could be written) • It was difficult to learn the writing, but it paid off… through money, status, and education

  10. Cuneiform Alphabet

  11. Lasting Legacy • Conquering civilizations that came into Mesopotamia (Sumer replaced by 1900 BC) adopted and expanded upon many Sumerian ideas • Cuneiform spread throughout the Middle East • Began telling the story The Epic of Gilgamesh • Developed astronomy: studied constellations and the movements of planets and stars • Developed math: • established a number system based on 6 • divided the hour into 60 minutes • Divided the circle into 360 degrees

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