GET OUT SOMETHING TO WRITE WITH

IF YOU NEED TO SHARPEN A PENCIL DO IT BEFORE THE BELL RINGS

There a 7 different characteristics or

parts to a civilization.

1. Social Structure2. Stable food

supply3. Government

4. Religion5. The Arts (including

music literature, statues, pictures,

sculpture etc.)6. Technology

7. Written Language

Sumerians were able to create a stable food supply through technology.

They built networks of irrigation systems to bring water to their crops.

They (the sumerians) also invented the plow which made it easier to break up the hard soil and plant crops

The plow increased food production and added to the stable food supply

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Irrigation in Ancient Mesopotamia

Social StructureAfter the King, there were 3 different classes in Sumerian culture.

The upper class included priests, land owners and government officials.

The middle or common class in included merchants ( people who sell) and craftsmen ( people who make things)

The lowest class were slaves

GovernmentThe role of government was to direct people’s behavior and make life orderly.

Sumer was not a unified country, instead it was a collection of city states which had its own individual leaders.

Sumerians believed these leaders were said to be chosen by God to rule.

Each city state had its own army. Sumerians fought other city states for control of resources, such as water, food, and land boundaries.

Sumerian city states built religious temple towers known as ziggurats.

Religion

Sumerians were polytheists, which meant they worshipped many different gods.

Sumerian gods and

goddesses

Some ceremonies included the practice of human sacrifice as way to please their Gods.

Highly developed cultures can support art.

Art is important because it shows a highly developed division of labor. (many people working at many different jobs)

Artists do not produce things for practical purposes, but they are important because they can relate what a civilization or culture is like and often their work can lead to innovation and new technology.

Engraved cylinders with battle scenes are one of Sumer’s most famous works of art.

Sumerians are credited with creating the wheel back in 3500 b.c.e.. The wheel made travel easier and is still used our modern society.

The Sumerians also developed a number system based on 60.

This is the reason why we have 60 minutes in an hour and 360 degrees in a circle

Sumerians originally used pictographs to communicate

Pictographs represented objects

Writing Systems

The Sumerians had a writing system known as cuneiform. The used wedge shaped symbols to communicate and record information. They etched these symbols into clay tablets.

Cuneiform symbols represented syllables.