Sumer
Origins and History
The Sumerian civilization is one of the earliest known civilizations in the world, originating in southern Mesopotamia (now southern Iraq) around 4500 BC. The Sumerians are credited with many innovations, including the invention of cuneiform script, one of the earliest forms of writing.
The Sumerians established city-states, each governed by a king who was considered a divine representative. These city-states included Uruk, Ur, Eridu, and Lagash. The Sumerians developed a complex society with distinct social classes, including nobles, commoners, and slaves.
Culture and Society
Sumerian culture was rich and varied. They had a pantheon of gods and goddesses, with each city-state having its own patron deity. The Sumerians believed in an afterlife, and this belief influenced their burial practices, which often included grave goods for the deceased to use in the afterlife.
The Sumerians made significant contributions to literature, with the Epic of Gilgamesh being one of their most famous works. This epic poem, which tells the story of a legendary king of Uruk, is considered one of the earliest works of literature in the world.
Sumerian society was also marked by its advancements in technology and science. They developed a system of mathematics based on the number 60, which is still used today in our measurement of time and angles. They were also skilled in agriculture, with irrigation systems that allowed them to farm in the arid environment of Mesopotamia.
Decline and Legacy
The Sumerian civilization began to decline around 2000 BC, with the rise of the Akkadian Empire. Despite this decline, the Sumerians left a lasting legacy. Their innovations in writing, mathematics, and governance had a profound influence on subsequent civilizations in the region, including the Babylonians and the Assyrians.