- Sumer was an ancient civilization located in southern Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq) from around 4500 BC to 2000 BC. It is considered one of the earliest civilizations in the world. - The Sumerians developed new techniques in agriculture such as irrigation, which allowed cities and states to form along the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. This led to the development of writing, specialized labor, trade, and greater population densities. - Sumerian city-states rose to power between 2900 BC to 2334 BC until it was conquered by the Akkadian Empire. After a brief resurgence, Sumerian dominance ended as the region became dominated by Semitic