The Sumerians developed a stable food supply through farming inventions like the plow and irrigation canals. They had a social structure with three levels - nobles, commoners, and slaves. The king was responsible for government and religion, while artisans created objects for worship and daily life. The Sumerians advanced science through innovations in math, writing, and the wheel, establishing them as one of early history's first civilizations.

1. Stable Food Supply
• How did Sumerians know
they had a stable food
supply?
• Name two inventions that
helped with farming
Social Structure
• Describe the three levels of
social structure
• Explain what types of
houses they lived in
Government
• What were some of the
king’s responsibilities?
Religion
• In what ways did Sumerians
express religious beliefs?
The Arts
• What types of objects did
artisans make for
Sumerians?
Technology
• What were two
technology/science/math
advances of the
Sumerians? Describe their
importance
Writing
• Describe Sumerian writing
and why scribes were
important.
Chapter 1 Section 2: Ancient Sumer
Why do historians classify ancient Sumer as a civilization?
In this section, we learned about the characteristics of a Sumerian society that made it a civilization