The Sumerians

1. The Sumerians

2. Mesopotamia • Live in fertile valleys • Mesopotamia means “between the rivers” • Tigris and Euphrates

3. Beginnings of Sumer • Called “the black-headed people” • Origins not entirely known • Dominated Semitic-speaking neighbors, leading to building of a civilization

4. City-States • World’s first civilization • 3500 B.C.E – 2000 B.C.E • 3000 B.C.E form large city-states in southern Mesopotamia • City-states: Kish, Nippur, Umma, Lagash, Uruk, and Ur

5. Sumerian Religion • Polytheistic • Many gods controlled natural forces • Associated with astronomical forces

6. Gods • Gods suffered all ravages human emotional and spiritual feelings • Believe that gods regret creation of human life • A flood was sent to destroy creation (Noah’s Ark)

7. Gods Cont. • Invented astrology to discover what gods had in store for them • Examined organs of sacrificed animals for secrets to the future

8. Sumerian Law • Code of Hammurabi- reproduction of Sumerian law • Used law of lex talionis • Had courts of law • Victim and/or victim’s family enforced the sentence • Everyone wasn’t equal under the laws

9. Writing • First kept record using tokens • Cuneiform invented in about 3000B.C.E • Wrote with stylus on clay tablets • 550 wedged-shaped characters • Earliest known form of writing

10. Math and Science • Number system based on 60 • Developed basic algebra and geometry • Invented calendars divided into 12 months

11. City Layout • Cities were often rectangular in shape • Surrounded by high, wide walls • Had broad avenues • Shop-lined streets that made up bazaar

12. Buildings • Largest buildings were ziggurats • Each ziggurat had a shrine dedicated to a god or goddess • Rulers lived in beautiful palaces • Common people live in tiny houses

13. Economy and Trade • Traded by land and boat • Main exports included textiles • Sumerian economy was based on agriculture

14. Sumerian Government • Developed one of the world’s first systems of monarchy • First ruled by priests • Priests ruled through a series of bureaucrats

15. Sumerian Classes • Most people were farmers • Divided into 3 classes: upper, middle, and lower • In Sumerian class society, women still had rights, but were inferior to men

16. The Fall of Sumer • Sargon the Great led the Akkadians and invaded and conquered Sumer in 2330 B.C.E. • Sumerians briefly regained control • Amorites take over and Hammurabi becomes the leader of Babylon in 1792 B.C.E.

17. Social Institutions • City States • Social Hierarchy • Highest Classes: ruling family, officials, high priests • Middle Class- merchants, artisans, lesser priests and scribes

18. Social Institutions • Lower Class- slaves • Peasant farmers made up majority • Slaves- in debt citizens or prisoners of war

19. Role of Women • In charge of household • Legal rights • Borrowed and loaned money • Owned property

20. Religion • Polytheistic • Believed it controlled nature • Gods behaved like ordinary people • Highest role in society was to keep gods happy • Made sacrifices • Celebrated holy days • Believed in afterlife

21. Cooperation and Conflict • Individual city states tried to dominate the region • The ages of empires began • Sargon for Akkad created first empire • Sumer was the first known Mesopotamian Society

22. Individuals & History Uruk Period • Kings were mythological figures named Aluim and Dumizid. • Kings ruled before the major flood. Early Dynastic Period • Includes legendary figures such as Enmerkar and Gilgamesh. • Both figures ruled before the opening of historic record in 2700 C.E. • Earliest Dynastic king is Etana. • Etana was the 13th king of the first dynasty of Kish. • Etana was mentioned in the Gilgamesh epic.

23. Sumerian Decline • Major shift in southern Iraq towards the north. • Agriculture was being compromised by Soil salinity. • Soil Salinity- slat content in the soil. • Agricultural yields reduced severely. • Shifted from wheat to barley. • Barley was not sufficient, population declined by 3/5ths. • Balance of power was weakened. • Sumer eventually only became a language.

24. City States • Sumer was divided into 12 city-states. • Limits were defined by canals & boundary stones. • Each city state was centered around a temple dedicated to a particular god or goddess. • Ruled by a “priestly governor” (ensi) or a king (lugal) First 5 City States 1. Eridu 2. Bad-tibira 3. Larsa 4. Sippar 5. Shuruppak

25. Cultural Development • Sumerians invented picture-hieroglyphs • Later it developed into a new writing system called cuneiform. • Thousands of texts from the Sumerian language have survived-clay tablets.

26. Cultural Development • Sumer was a Polytheistic society-believed in more than one God. • Sumerian temples were called Ziggurats • Ziggurats were used for sacrifice and praise. • Sumerian agriculture depended heavily on irrigation. • Some examples of their crops include: barely, lentils, wheat, & lettuce. • They also raised cattle, pigs, sheep, and goats.

27. Technology & History • Invented many important inventions: • The wheel • Cuneiform • Arithmetic • Geometry • Irrigation • Important tools (ex. hammers, nails, hoes) • Sandals • Harpoons

28. Technology & History • Reasons inventions were important: • Created new methods for food creation and farming. • Helped in the process of capturing animals and hunting. • The lunisolar calendar helped predict droughts and floods. • Inventions created have impacted our world for centuries.

29. Human Environment Interactions • They had to adapt to their surroundings • EX. Fertile land + Tigris and Euphrates river led them to start farming and create an irrigation system

30. Impact of Ideas • Cuneiform Writing- involved over 550 wedge shaped symbols • System of Numbers- developed a number system based on the unit 60. divided the hour into 60 minutes and the circle into 360 degrees • Astronomy- accurate calendars, which are essential to a farming society • Wheel- used first on things such as plows • Irrigation- method used in farming still used today

31. Government • For protection, people turned to courageous and resourceful war leaders. Over time, these war leaders evolved into hereditary rulers. • Each city-state, the ruler was responsible for maintaining the city walls and the irrigation systems,leading armies in war, and enforcing the laws. • As government grew more complex, he employed scribes to carry out functions such as collecting taxes and keeping records. • The ruler also had religious duties. He was seen as the chief servant of the gods and led ceremonies designed to please them.

32. Sumerian Fun Facts • Sumer was the first civilization on the Fertile Crescent. • There is a very high chance that you will use a Sumerian invention every day. • Sumerians called themselves sag-gi-gameaning “the black headed people”

33. Basic Facts Located in southern Mesopotamia Civilization rose around 3000 BCE Population: 100,000

34. Kings List List of rulers of Ancient Sumer 16 copies Late third millennium Identical to the Eridu Genesis Total of 11 royal cities 134 Kings 28,876+N years, N months, and N days

35. Kings List • Some rulers include • Alulim: ruled for 28,800 years in Eridu • Enmen-lu-ana: ruled for 43,200 years in Bad-tioira • En-sipad-zid-aa: ruled for 28,800 years in Larak • Enmen-dur-ana: ruled for 21,000 years in Sippar • Ubara-Tutu: ruled for 18,600 years in Suruppak

36. Gods Nine Gods Responsible for the unknown Every city-state had their own god Lived in Ziggurat

37. Gods • They were • Nammu: goddess of the primeval sea • An: god of heavens • Ki: goddess of the earth • Enlil: god of air and storms • Utu: sun god • Ninhursag: mother earth • Enki: god of water and wisdom • Inanna: goddess of love and war • Ereshkigal: godess of darkness, gloom, and death

38. Beliefs Called space the “great domed roof” Thought it contained the sky, stars, moon, and sun Sun lighted cities beneath

39. Beliefs Netherworld=Underworld Netherworld was underneath Earth Were demons and the kingdom of dead

40. Economy • Relied on agriculture and trade • Sumer was irrigated by canals & dams, which watered the fields to grow crops • Traded the crops and textiles they made with other people • Mainly Asia-Minor and Iran

41. Economy • When they traded, they received: • Stone • Metal • Timbers • Brought back goods to Sumer • Used goods to make items of their own for trade • Trade it with others groups

42. Cuneiform • Cuneiform: Latin for “wedged shaped” • Earliest known invention of writing • Stylus: triangle-shaped; made imprints in clay • used: • Keep records of businesses, taxation, and production figures • Epics, myths, essays, poetry, and education texts

43. Jobs Pottery makers, stone cutters, bricklayers, metal smiths, farmers, fishers, shepherds, weavers, leather workers, sailors

44. Inventions Wheel Iron Engraving Bleaching/dying

45. Homes Huts from bundles of reeds Built by sun-baked bricks Had shortage of stone

46. Mathematics • Had first known math systemcalled “sexagesimal” • 360 degree circle • 12-inch foot • A dozen • 12 month calender

47. Metal Started the age of metal Learned to melt & mold it Used for weaponry and tools

48. Medicine Symbols for Sumerian medicine Started to use medicines Had earliest surgeons & doctors

49. Boats • Made some of the first boats • Skin boats • Sail boats • Wooden oar boats • Used for easy transportation • People • Goods • cattle

50. Tools • Axes • Knives • Arrows • Swords • Glue • Daggers • armors • Water skins • Bags • Harnesses • Harpoons • Quivers • scabbards saws Chisels Hammers Braces Bits Nails Rings Hoes