Human civilizations throughout history have had much in the way of influences from the past, which served as a basis in their establishment. One of the most influential groups deriving from ancient Mesopotamia era of 1500 B.C. known as the Sumerians contributed in the ways of agriculture, technology, writing, farming and politics. Advances in agriculture allowed cities and occupations to form and as a result enabled cities to construct complex forms of government, religion, economy, and languages. Because of these advances even though much good may have come from them some in the way of bad have resulted. Therefore, larger populations were flourishing, war, illnesses, and political corruption all developed and had a lasting effect on human …show more content…
It was noted as the first civilization of Southern Mesopotamia. There is little evidence provided as to the origins of the civilization. The evidence that has been found has been artifacts of clay pottery and art depicting stories behind the Ubaid society. The traces suggest that the Ubaids dwelled in multicomplex village homes. Additionally, the Ubaids invented not only methods of construction as seen with the villages, but irrigation systems, metal tools, agriculture through farming and livestock and coin currency use. The Uruk period was quickly followed by the Ubaid dynastic period from 4000-3100 BCE. The Uruks were founded by King Enmerkar and eventually ruled by King Gilgamesh who is best known for the tales of his immortality as king of Uruk. The Uruk society gave rise to the development of language in the region known as Aramaic. Contributions also include the invention of writing, architecture in the development of the ziggurat, which was dedicated to the God Anu and cylinder seal. The political system was also invented as the Uruks had a centralized form of government where each city was governed by its own God.
The contributions of the Sumerians firstly gave way to the invention of agriculture techniques. The Sumerians created the first “mono cropping” system which allowed a single plant to be grown year after year. As a result, the Sumerians harvested “barley, chickpeas, lentils, wheat,
They invented many important things that are still used today. For example, the Sumerians invented the wheel, which could be used for transportation. 6,000 years late, we are still using the wheel, primarily on our cars for transportation. Another invention that was created by the Sumerians was the pottery wheel. The pottery wheel spins clay around and allows the user to mold it with their hands, another invention that we still use today. They also invented the plow for farming. The plow is still in use today by modern day farmers. Lastly, the Sumerians invented Irrigation. Irrigation uses levees and canals to manipulate water to water crops. Irrigation is still used today as well as levees and canals. Many Sumerian inventions were paramount to the development of civilization, and are still in use and practical today.
The fertile land and its easy access to water from the Euphrates and Tigris rivers was what made it possible for agriculture to emerge. It then spread to other regions, enabling humans to settle in one place. The Sumerians also developed irrigation in order to regulate the flow of the water and to irrigate crops, making farming an easier task. The Sumerians developed the concept of time, with 60-second minutes, 60-minute hours and 24-hour days. The first form of writing was developed by the Sumerians, called cuneiform. It was used in trade, to keep track of the merchandise and debts. Mesopotamia’s technological innovations were the basis for the progression of technology. The Shang dynasty improved their bronze technology. Mass production of bronze items boomed during that time. The incorporation of bronze weapons and armor gave the Shang a great military advantage. They invented the yoke, harness, and spoked wheel. These inventions facilitated agriculture and transport. The Chinese also created a refined writing system with over 2000 symbols. Both Sumer and Shang China contributed to the development of today’s mathematics. The Sumerians first came up with the concept, needing an accurate system to keep count of the goods being traded, while the Chinese developed the decimal system. They also contributed to the way of life we have today. The Chinese created a 12 month calendar with 365 and 1/4 days, based on the
To fully utilize natural resources, the Sumerians created many inventions that lead to evolutionary advancements with technology. Bronze weapons were replaced with Iron, the invention of the plow and eventual domestication of animals for agricultural purposes, and the sailboat, which was used as a mode of transportation for the trade of goods among neighboring civilizations. Among the most important inventions was the use of simple clay, the foundation of an organized communication system among the Sumerians made up of symbols, known as cuneiform. The output of knowledge by the Sumerians, despite harsh geographical circumstances, gave way as an influential role for growth and development in other civilizations such as Egypt with the invention of hieroglyphics, along the way.
The Sumerians created a system of writing to record business transactions and history. They called it “clay tablet”. They also invented the wheel and the plow which helped them to harvest some of their goods. Sumerians created the ziggurats, which were
The Ubaid Period 6500 to 3800BC used a distinctive style of painted pottery which spread throughout most of Mesopotamia and the Persian Gulf. The first settlement in southern Mesopotamia was established at Eridu around 5300BC by farmers who brought with them the first pioneered irrigation of agriculture. Eridu remained an important religious center when it was gradually surpassed in size by the nearby city of Uruk.
Sumerians were one of the first civilizations that existed and had an established developed government. The Sumerian’s lived in Mesopotamia which was located right between Tigris river and Euphrates river and the land in the middle was a great place for people to settle in because it was fertile. The people who lived here were no longer hunters and gatherers and there were more that people could do. Farmers contributed their crops to others and so people had the chance to acquire other skills. With plenty of food and great innovation, the population of the Samarians grew they populated other areas which became city-states.
Mesopotamia was founded by Sumerian people in 3300 b.c. and fell and diminished in 1900 b.c. This great civilization brought many meaningful achievements, social, economic, religions, and political things to the table. Some main accomplishments were technological advancements, wedged writing, wool clothing, and agricultural. These things took much time over the course of life.
Sumer is one of the first ancient civilization that had many cities until the drought and being conquered. The Sumerians built ziggurat temples for the living (which was similar to the pyramids in Egypt). They had farms on the outer part of the center city because their society was based on trading and farming. The important people lived in the center. In their society, most people were educated and men took control of the women. They believed in many gods, they were polytheism. The Sumerians created a written language that is
There was a quest for order in Mesopotamia. During the fourth millennium B.C.E., human population increased. Through adaptation they created states and governmental machinery. Sumerians from the land of Sumer were dominant in Mesopotamia. In Sumer population increased likely because of agricultural potential. There were new arrivals who were Semitic people. Sumerians built the world 's first cities. There were Sumerian cities that then established states. There were palaces, temples and defensive walls. The impressive buildings were ziggurats which housed
From 3000 B.C. to 300 B.C. civilizations have been able to settle in Mesopotamia, modern day Iraq, the region between the Tigris and Euphrates River. Just as each new civilization learned from the remains left behind, historians now study the same remains to connect the dots as to how we are here today.
Most historians consider Sumerians the first civilization because the Sumerians had a stable food supply, a social structure, a system of government, a religious system, a religious system, a highly developed way of life, some type of technology, and a highly developed written language. To keep up a stable food supply the Sumerians invented two things that could help them. One of those two things was that the Sumerians built network of canals, dams, and reservoirs to allow crops act the sufficient and regularly supply of water. The second invention was the plow. A plow is forming tool that helps prepare the soil for planting. This invention increased the farming for the Sumerians. The first plows were made of wood and
The civilization of ancient Mesopotamia rose in the valley between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. The rivers were good for fishing and a good source of water. Some say that this fertile crescent was the real garden of Eden. The natural barriers it had was the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. King Nebuchadazzar was the one who developed the civilization. Herodotus was quoted as saying the following: “ in addition to its size baby ion surpasses in splendor any city in the known world. The walls they made was fifty six miles in length eighty feet thick and three hundred twenty feet high. The doors were able to let four house carriages to turn though at the same time. The Sumerians invented a number system from one to sixty and writing called Cuneiform. Even though their writing was hard to understand
Sumerians took pride and valued their art and culture. Sumerians created temples and structured buildings which have influenced modern day buildings. They invented the concept of irrigation which then allowed them to have
Sumer was one of Mesopotamia’s most important societies. Sumerians settled in an area they later called Sumer. By 3000 BCE, 10000 Sumerians settled in the area. Most of these people were farmers. In the center of Sumer, they built a large city which served as their capital. Inside Sumer, there were many city-states, which is political unit consisting of a city and its surrounding countryside. To get more land and expand their power, city-states would fight each other. They kept other city-states out by building walls around their cities. The most powerful city-states were Kish, Uruk, and Ur. Uruk’s most famous king was named Gilgamesh. As you can see, Sumer was very important.
In Sumer they had Ziggurats which are large temples dedicated to each city-states. They also had cuneiform in Sumer, pictographs, mathematics and astronomy. Sumerians also farmed, traded, and used tools made of bronze.