1. Lesson 1 Lesson One Notes The Sumerians
Mesopotamia has been called the "cradle of civilization." It was the beginning of organized human society. Sumerians had
a great influence on history
Why did people settle in Mesopotamia?
River Valley that had water for drinking and water their crops –two parallel rivers Tigris and Euphrates
Little rain fell which left farmers without enough water to plant crops
Heavy rains and melting snow flooded areas that swept away crops, homes, and livestock
Floods provided fertile soil (SILT) and farmers learned to build dams to control seasonal floods
Farmers dug canals to water crops (irrigation)
Surplus of food lessened the need for farmers and many became artisans -Trade developed
Life in Sumer
Because of large desert areas, city-states were cut off from each other
Smaller areas formed city-states that had their own political/ economic systems (5000-20,000 people in a ci ty state)
City-states may have been protected by man-made walls
City-States went to war with each other over resources, political boundaries, glory, and or land
Gods, Priest and Kings
Sumerians worshipped many gods (polytheism) The Gods had powers- such as nature (weather) and
over skills such as plowing or brickmaking Each city-state claimed one god as their own and a Ziggurat
was built in its honor
Sumerian Kings were likely war heroes at first and then it was hereditary
Social Groups – you were born into your group
Upper class- kings priest and warriors, government officials
Middle class- merchants farmers fisherman and artisans
Lower Class- enslaved people, captured in war, criminals and those that owed debt
Farmers and Traders
Farmers had a plot of land -Wheat, barley, and dates were the major crops. Farmers also raised sheep,
goats, and pigs.
Traders traded with other people for metals and other goods. Trade routes linked Sumer to places as far
away as India and Egypt. They traded wheat, barley, and tools for timber, minerals, and metals.
Writing
Sumerian’s writing -most important contribution to the world. (life records and business transactions)
Sumerians created a way of writing called cuneiform made up of about 1,200 different characters.
Characters represented such things as names, physical objects, and numbers
Boys from wealthy families— learned how to read and write cuneiform. scribes wrote documents that
recorded court records, marriage contracts, business dealings, and important events.
Some scribes were judges and government officials.
Technology and Mathematics
Sumerians created the wheel, the first carts pulled by donkeys, vehicles made for military use called the
chariot, developed the sailboat, invented a wooden plow, the potter's wheel, bronze out of copper and tin
to make stronger tools, weapons, and jewelry.
The Sumerians also studied mathematics and astronomy. Made a 12-month calendar based on the cycles
of the moon told the best times to plant crops and to hold religious ceremonies.
