The Sumerians Research Paper

The Mesopotamians were overall a complex and smart civilization. There were qualities and specific traits that the Mesopotamian developed that helped make this civilization as important as is. Different mathematical, scientific, and agricultural methods were developed that people still use to this day. Without this civilization, society today could possibly be a different place

The Sumerians were a group of intelligent and hard working people. Sumerians were the first to establish traditions and activities that have come to be basic elements of what we call civilization (David A. Leeming, pg 247). This idea of civilization began to spread is now the basis of human life today. They settled between the Tigris and Euphrates River because of the rich farmland. The Sumerians are know for creating a lot of first. The first wheel, agriculture and irrigation methods, schools in the region, and the first civilization that arose in the Fertile Crescent region. Many people believe that the Sumerians were the first civilization because they gave us the modern agriculture and irrigation method, they developed new crafts, and they maintained cuneiform.

The Sumerians were the most successful ancient civilization because they created the first written language. For example, without the Sumerians, we humans would not have the invention of writing. Their writing was called cuneiform. Cuneiform is when they took a stylus and imprinted writing on clay tablets. The Sumerians would sometimes also imprint on wax, stone, and metal.

The Mesopotamian time period began somewhere around 5,000 B.C. This time period is especially significant to the history of human civilization, because it actually one of the places where civilization began. Stationed between two rivers, Mesopotamia certainly had the optimal geography for civilization to begin ― all that was needed was the time for it to happen. The fact that this time period occurred helped human civilization immensely. Without the perfect conditions that Mesopotamia had to offer, civilization may not have started off so well, and we would not be as advanced as we are today. Thus, the fact that the Mesopotamian time period even existed has greatly impacted human civilization. Likewise, this time period also brought about an age of revolutionary accomplishments and inventions. For example, the Mesopotamians (specifically the Sumerians) created the first form of writing ― cuneiform. Although this writing was still in its primitive form, its invention was extremely important. Writing enabled people to record information permanently, for use in writing books, collecting tax information, and in long-distance communication. The Mesopotamians also invented the wheel, chariot, and the sailboat. These achievements allowed for increased mobility and improvements in transportation. The fact that these inventions have survived and evolved to still be used today shows just how significant they were in the development of human civilization. If this time period had not occurred, these influential achievements may not have been accomplished and would greatly impact humans for years to come. Not only did this time period promote innovation, but with it also came the development of government. Due to the large growing population, there was a need for a system that could control them. The Sumerians originally developed a system of priest-kings that governed each city state. This time period is

Sumerian arts and inventions flourished. The wheel itself, which led to the potters wheel and wagon wheels, were apparently invented in Sumer. (49). This lent sophistication to pottery and increased efficiency to farming. The Bronze Age found its origins in Sumerian civilization, which put metal tips on hoes, axes, arrowheads, daggers and many other tools. In Teotihuacan however, the economy " thrived on agriculture, craftwork, and trade in ceramics and quarried obsidian. " (98) There was no evidence in the text or lecture notes that they had achieved the amenities of the Bronze age.

The Sumerians invented the earliest known form of writing (cuneiform) and introduced counting by sixties (Tullock & McEntire, 2012).

and what it represents. The two civilizations I will focus on are the Sumerians and the

THe Sumerians created a language that helped the development of civilization and structure through the people.

The Sumerians created a lot of old stories that you might of heard of like “ The Epic of Gilgamesh”. Located in Mesopotamia near the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers, the “ Cradle of Civilization” was born. Geographers helped isolate other city-states. This unit also takes place in Southern Iraq, in 3000 B.C., when the Sumerians had their own government. They had many great ideas that turned into great inventions that still affect people today. My source for this information is Spielvogel page 134 to page 137. The Sumerians created the first written language, and also made advances in science and math.

Although, the ancient stories of the Sumerians are widely attributed to pure mythology, they went to great lengths to understand and create a way to record their history, discoveries, and development. The most accepted view on what makes a culture civilized, “is a culture which has attained a degree of complexity, usually characterized by urban life” (Guisepi). Even though human exploration continues to discover previously unknown chapters of the Sumerian story, the extensive amount of archeological evidence found and the time frame; allows us to accredit them for the foundation of what is considered today, as the standards for human civilization. Everything from their mythological creation,

Archaeologist have found thousands of clay tablets inscribed in cuneiform (wedge-shaped), writing is one of the most notable achievements of the Sumerians. The tablets were records of mainly business transactions, inventories of supplies, production and taxation

The first huge contribution that the Sumerians made in their time living that continues to affect us today was their complex social

A video on YouTube called “Mesopotamia” by Pirieenzo and narrated by Simon Chilvens tells the story of the Sumerians, the oldest known civilization. It is said that for nearly five thousand years, in the Iraqi desert, the Sumerians invented writing and the wheel. They divided time into minutes and seconds and built gigantic cities. The Sumerians loved culture and the arts. It is stated that their caravans crossed the desert opening up the first trade groups. The Sumerians’ stories inspired our founding myths and their memories lives on the Old Testament writing the history of the mankind. However, this brilliant civilization died leaving its very existence as a mystery.

Mesopotamia was in an area with very rich soils. The rich soils led to them to grow crops. The rich soil and the growing of all the crops led to the development of civilization.

The Sumerians have earned the title of the “first true civilization” because they were extraordinary people who single handedly created civilization.While the rest of the world was still living in the Stone Age. Their language is unrelated to other language groups. Sumerians invention of civilization was created with very