The Sumerians established advanced city-states in Mesopotamia around 3000 BC, where rulers claimed divine approval and religion played a major role. Sargon later conquered the region to form the first empire, though it did not last after his death as rival city-states regained power. The Sumerians developed new technologies, built walled cities like Ur for protection, and practiced polytheism with gods influencing all aspects of life.

1. SUMER
Social Studies for 8 th E.G.B.
Teacher: Mauricio Torres

2. BACKGROUND
• Civilizations rose around rivers,
and they became more organized
and advanced.
• Religion became a main
characteristic.
• Rulers claimed to rule with the
approval of the gods.
• Humanity began to develop more
advanced technologies

3. AN ADVANCED SOCIETY
• No one knows where the Sumerians
came from, but they moved into
Mesopotamia around 3000 BC.
• City States
• Most people lived in rural
(countryside) areas but gathered in
urban (cities) areas.
• These cities grew big enough to
house as many as 100,000 by the
year 2000 BC.
• These “units” were called CITY-
STATES.
• Rivalries between the many city-states
led to the build up of armies and
fortifications.
• The two most important were Uruk
and Ur.

4. THE AKKADIANS
• North of Sumer, lived the Akkadians.
• They were a different culture and spoke a
different language.
• They lived in peace with each other.
• This peace was broken by Sargon.
• He raised a permanent army.
• Built a new capital: Akkad (near present day
Baghdad).
• Conquered all of Mesopotamia
• Created the first Empire.
More information on page 61 of your book.

5. FALL OF THE AKKADIANS
• After Sargon, the later rulers could not hold the
empire together.
• Ur rose back after it rebuilt it’s strength.
• Sumerians were once again the most powerful
civilization.

6. RELIGION SHAPES SOCIETY
• Religion was so important, that it played an
important role on every aspect of daily life.
• The Sumerians practiced polytheism.
• Some of their gods:
• Enlil, lord of the air.
• Enki, god of wisdom.
• Inanna, godess of love and war.
• Pazuzu, king of demons of the wind.
• Each city-state considered a god to be its
protector.

7. GODS & PRIESTS
• According to Sumerians, gods had enormous problems and
could be blamed for evil or thanked for the good things.
• Success or defeat in life, had everything to do with the gods.
• Priests, people who performed religious ceremonies, had
great status in Sumer.
• They interpreted the wishes of the gods.
• They helped gain the favor of the gods.
• They made offerings to the gods.

8. SOCIAL ORDER
Kings
Priests Craftspeople,
merchants.
Traders Farmers Laborers
Slaves

9. UR

10. UR
• Most of the city was filled with a maze of houses and shops.
• Inside the city’s walls there were canals. But outside, they connected Ur to the nearby
Euphrates.
• Farmers grew crops like wheat and barley outside the city’s walls.
• Massive walls protected Ur from attack.
• A giant temple dedicated moon god Nanna and his wife Ningal dominated the city.
• Was Ur an advanced city?

11. UR
• Ur was not discovered until the 1800s. Until that time, people thought
references to the city of Ur were mere legend. Excavations in the 1920s
indicated that the city was established around 4000 BC.
• Even today archaeologists still find amazing artifacts!

12. ASK YOURSELF
• Identify:
• What is polytheism?
• Explain:
• What kind of powers did Sumerians think their gods have?
• Recall:
• What purpose did the walls around the cities serve?
• Describe:
• What were the city states?
• Draw Conclusions:
• How was Sargon able to build the first empire?

13. BIBLIOGRAPHY
• Burstein, S. M., & Shek, R. (2012). World History (Teacher´s Edition) (1st Edition ed.). (H.
McDougal, Ed.) Orlando, Florida, US.: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
• Images taken from Google.com