CITY-STATES OF ANCIENT SUMER

The Fertile Crescent• The area that curves from the

Persian Gulf to the eastern Mediterranean coast was named the fertile crescent for its rich soils and golden wheat fields.

• This area sits between the Tigris & Euphrates rivers in Mesopotamia, which means “between the rivers”

• In Sumer, the fertile land of the river valley attracted Stone Age farmers from neighboring regions.

The Middle East: Crossroads of Culture

• Look at this map? Why the Middle East?

Map in Context

Inconsistent Floods & Irrigation• The Tigris & Euphrates rivers frequently rose in terrifying

floods that washed away topsoil and destroyed mud-brick villages.

• The Epic of Gilgamesh tells of a great flood that destroys the world. Archaeologists have found evidence that a catastrophic flood devastated the fertile crescent around 4,900 years ago.

• To survive, Mesopotamians had to work together to control the rivers by building dikes and irrigation ditches.

First Sumerian Cities• Around 3200 B.C. the first

Sumerian cities emerged in Southern Mesopotamia.

• Lacking timber or stone, the Sumerians made bricks of clay shaped in wooden molds and sun dried.

• The Sumerians were the first to make wheeled vehicles

• Sumerians found riches from the trade network that crossed through its cities.

Sumerian Government• Due to the constant battling of rival Sumerian city-states,

people turned to war leaders, who would eventually become hereditary rulers.

• In each city-state, the ruler was responsible for maintaining the city walls & irrigation systems, leading armies into war and enforcing laws.

• As society grew more complex, scribes were used to collect taxes and keep records.

• Sumerian social hierarchy was stratified similar to Egypt.• Ruling Family & High Priests (highest class)• Lesser Priests, Scribes, Merchants, & Artisan (Middle Class)• Farmers (Low Class, the majority of people)• Slaves

Women• Male Sumerian gods became

dominant as warrior leaders began to lead Sumerian societies.

• In the early city-states wives of rulers enjoyed special powers and duties.

• Over time, as men gained more power and wealth, women became more dependent on men.

• Women still had legal rights and a special few engaged in trade and owned property

Sumerian Religion• Polytheistic, believing their gods controlled every aspect

of life, especially the nature.• They believed their gods lived human-type lives eating,

drinking, raising families.• They thought their gods favored truth & justice, but were

also responsible for violence & suffering• To Sumerians, their highest duty was to keep their gods

happy, thereby ensuring the safety of their city-state. • Each state built a ziggurat (pyramid temple) with a shrine

of their chief god at the top.

Pleasing the gods• Sumerians prayed and offered the gods sacrifices of

animals, grain, & wine. • They believed in an afterlife, but saw it as a grim place

from which there was no release.• How does this contrast with Egypt’s afterlife belief. Why

might that be?• http://www.helium.com/items/674891-sumerian-values-an

d-beliefs

Advances in Learning• Sumerians invented cuneiform, which is probably the

oldest known form of writing. • Sumerians also made great advances in mathematics

dividing the hour into 60 minutes and the circle in 360 degrees as we still do today.

Invaders, Traders, & Empire Builders