The History of the Ancient Sumer

Prepare to Enter to Ancient Sumer

Joseph Kim

Introduction Ancient Sumer was one of the great city states of the ancient times city-states and settled around 3,500 B.C. Sumer was located in a country that is B.C. now known as Iraq in the Eastern Hemisphere The city-state was Hemisphere. state located between and outside of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. Archaeologists have been able to find answer questions by looking at the artifacts, pictographs, and cuneiforms the Sumerians made. The , wheel Sumer had invented was known by an a archaeologist looking at an artifact that had a Sumerian riding in a cart being pulled by a bull and much other stuff. During this reading you will find out about the reading civilization, way of writing, religion, etc.

Religion Sumerian people believed that almost everything had a god like other ancient city-states. They had built ziggurats which are towers were they used to pray for their gods and thinking their gods lived there They there. also sacrificed people to during ceremonies as an offer to their god In god. ceremonies musicians would play songs for their gods. Their Gods would make them happy and would be thankful for. Therefore the king was chosen by their god.

Technology The Sumerian technology was the wheel. The wheel was used for carts to go faster unlike a sledge that would get stuck in mud or snow. The wheel also helped the bull, mule, etc., and the load to be go and be carried faster. The wheel of Sumer wasnt very circular like the one we have today but it still make their lives easier. The wheel was a huge change to the Sumerians. It totally changed their lives like the internet to us although the internet is even a bigger change. Also the Sumerians wouldnt have to take out their old sledge from the dirty mud and cold snow.

Social Structure The social structure of the Sumerians was very simple. If you were a priest, landowner, or government official you would live in cozy two floor house. If you were a merchant, artisan, fisher, or farmer you would live in a small mud-brick house which isnt very cozy. Now the bottom brick level was the slaves. Slaves would usually live in their owners home ad wouldnt own anything. This changed a lot of the peoples lives because before there wasnt a social structure like in the Paleolithic Age.

High Class Priests, Landowners, Goverment Offiacials Luxury 2-floor mud houses in white washed walls. Located at the center of the city.

Medium Class Merchants, Artisans, Fisher, Farmer Small mud mud-brick houses. Located at the edge of the city. Lower Class Slaves Lived at their owners home owning nothing

Government Sumer was ruled by a king whom would be chosen by their god. The kings job was to lead the army and maintain the irrigation system. The most difficult job of the king I think would be leading the army. The army is difficult because if they lose a battle or war they would lose their land or water. Maintaining the irrigation system is easy because all it needs are people working in it. This changed the peoples lives to a safer place. The army would protect people from losing their homes or death. The king maintains the irrigation system so farmers have the water thats needed.

A pictograph showing the king and the people of Sumer.

Writing In ancient Sumer they wrote with pictographs which are drawing like if they wanted to show a bird eating they would draw bird symbol and a plant symbol. Later they used cuneiforms which were their alphabet but it was most likely like symbols. In order to write their write symbols they used a stylus looking like stick and write it on clay tablets and then dry it out in the hot sun. This changed the peoples communication to a whole new level. Their drawings were changed to an actual writing to send important letters or just messages. Throughout like every 2, 3, or more centuries tters they would change their style of writing like the picture shown below. The changes during centuries.

Stable Food Supply In order for anyone to survive they need to eat and stay hydrated. Sumerian farmers built canals, dams, and reservoirs to use the water needed during droughts which would be filled during a flood. In order to plant they dug holes with the tool they invented, the plow. The plow is a wooden stick attached to a metal that is curved and sharp. Then inside the hole then would put the seeds and let them grow.