The Sumerians settled in Mesopotamia around 3500 BC and formed 12 city-states by 3000 BC. Each city-state was independently governed but most came to be ruled by kings by 2700 BC. The Sumerians developed cuneiform writing, a calendar, innovations like the wheel and arch, and had a patriarchal society where men exercised authority over women. Their economy was based on agriculture and trade. They also established one of the earliest empires in Mesopotamia under Sargon I and the later Babylonian Empire under Hammurabi issued one of the earliest legal codes.

1. Babylon or The Sumerian Civilization
► Around 3500 B.C., The
Sumerians settled in the
lower part of the Tigris-
Euphrates river valley
(now Iraq and Syria)
► By 3000 B.C. they had
formed 12 city-states in
the valley.
► The population of each
city-state ranged from
20,000 to 250,000
Remains of monumental building at Ur

2. Sumerian Government and Men and
Women roles
► Each sumerian city-state governed itself
independently of the others.
► By 2700 B.C. the leaders of most city-states ruled
as kings. (they served as military leader and
highest priest or deity)
► Men exercised great authority over women and
children (they could sell women and children if
needed)
► Women could buy and sell property and operate
their own businesses and own and sell slaves.

3. Economy and Writing
► The economy was based mainly on commerce and trade,
but they were good producers of grains and clothes.
► To prepare documents and keep accounts they developed
the cuneiform writing system, the oldest in the world (3100
B.C.)
► To learn this system they had to study for many years at
‘eddubas’

4. RELIGION
► The Sumerian as the
Egyptians practiced a
polytheistic religion.
► Each deity presided
over a specific natural
force or a human
activity.
► Ex. An, responsible for
the seasons, Enlil
winds and agriculture
Marduk and his dragon, from a Babylonian cilinder

5. Sumerian inventions
► They invented the wagon wheel.
► The arch to build sturdier buildings.
► The potter’s wheel to shape containers.
► Sundial to keep time.
► A 12 month calendar based on cycles of the moon.
Early chariots on the standard of Ur, 2600 B.C.

6. Mesopotamian Empires
► 1. Sargon I. Around 2300 B.C. The Akkadians
united all the city-states in one empire.
► 2. Hammurabi’s Babylonian Empyre
The Amorites overran many Sumerian
centers, including Babylon. The dynasty they
founded at Babylon later produce a ruler who
dominate Mesopotamia: Hamurabi. Under
Hamurabi’s rule, Babylon became a major trade
center. After Hamurabi’s death the Babylonian
empire declined.
* The Hamurabi’s Law Code: A collection of laws
from the various Mesopotamian city-states, dealed
with most aspects of daily life.