Sumerian Sumerian AchievementsAchievements

Social Classes:Social Classes:

rigid social structurerigid social structure Nobility- Kings Nobility- Kings

nobles and Priestsnobles and Priests Middle class- Middle class-

merchants, bankers, merchants, bankers, skilled workersskilled workers

Lower classes- Lower classes- farmers and laborersfarmers and laborers

Slaves- chattel Slaves- chattel (property) owned by (property) owned by the masterthe master

Writing and Education:Writing and Education:

writing called writing called cuneiformcuneiform (cuneus- translation from (cuneus- translation from Latin for wedge)Latin for wedge)

stylusstylus- wedge shaped - wedge shaped tooltool

stylus pressed into wet stylus pressed into wet clay- wet clay was baked clay- wet clay was baked to preserve writingto preserve writing

creation of an early creation of an early ”printing” system (signet ”printing” system (signet rings and cylindrical seals rings and cylindrical seals used to sign names)used to sign names)

Writing and Education:Writing and Education:

scribes were scribes were trained to learn trained to learn the 600 symbolsthe 600 symbols

EddubasEddubas (schools) were (schools) were established to established to train scribestrain scribes

for the wealthyfor the wealthy

FarmingFarming

complex system of complex system of canals, ditches, dykes, canals, ditches, dykes, reservoirs etc.reservoirs etc.

required advanced required advanced engineering engineering

required cooperation to required cooperation to maintain the irrigation maintain the irrigation system (keep it free of system (keep it free of silt)silt)

grew a variety of crops- grew a variety of crops- grain, fruitgrain, fruit

cooperation leads to…cooperation leads to…civilizationcivilization

Shipping and Trade:Shipping and Trade:

many shipping many shipping vesselsvessels

trade with Egypt trade with Egypt and Ethiopia for and Ethiopia for goods they could goods they could not produce at not produce at homehome

had a “world had a “world view” - mapview” - map

Religion:Religion:

polytheisticpolytheistic (gods/ demi- (gods/ demi-gods)gods)

each city-state had a each city-state had a patron godpatron god

gods were believed to need gods were believed to need sacrifice and praise or they sacrifice and praise or they could be vengefulcould be vengeful

very vague notions of an very vague notions of an afterlife (neither pleasant afterlife (neither pleasant or unpleasant)or unpleasant)

temples were dedicated to temples were dedicated to the gods- the gods- ZiggarutsZiggaruts

liver divinationliver divination (messages from gods) (messages from gods) markings on the livers of markings on the livers of sacrificial sheepsacrificial sheep

Architecture and Architecture and Technology:Technology: invention of the invention of the wheelwheel led to led to

carts and chariotscarts and chariots the the arch arch (construction)(construction) seed plowsseed plows (using a funnel (using a funnel

attached to a plow to plant attached to a plow to plant seeds)seeds)

shaduf shaduf to lift water from to lift water from rivers and into irrigation canalsrivers and into irrigation canals

houses (mud-brick or clay) houses (mud-brick or clay) could be more than one story could be more than one story (indicated wealth)(indicated wealth)

woven woven reeds matsreeds mats were to were to stabilize the walls of canalsstabilize the walls of canals

smeltingsmelting of copper and later of copper and later on bronzeon bronze

Ziggaruts- temples that were Ziggaruts- temples that were made from platforms one atop made from platforms one atop another decorated with another decorated with columns, arches, mosaicscolumns, arches, mosaics

City-States:City-States:

developed from developed from small towns and small towns and villagesvillages

walled for walled for protection protection (includes (includes surrounding surrounding farmlands)farmlands)

centers of trade, centers of trade, defense, religiondefense, religion

Culture and the Arts:Culture and the Arts:

sculpturesculpture decorated pottery decorated pottery

and clothingand clothing The The Epic of Epic of

GilgameshGilgamesh (first (first recorded story recorded story about a heroic about a heroic priest-king from priest-king from the city-state of the city-state of Uruk)Uruk)

librarieslibraries

Legal and Political Legal and Political SystemsSystems

initially democratic initially democratic principles were principles were evidentevident

eventually eventually despoticdespotic rulers gained controlrulers gained control

had laws and courts had laws and courts to make legal to make legal decisions about decisions about ownership, divorce ownership, divorce etc.etc.

MathematicsMathematics::

highly developed highly developed and based on and based on units units of 60of 60

standard unit of standard unit of measurement called measurement called a a cubitcubit (from elbow (from elbow to fingertips- approx. to fingertips- approx. 50cm)50cm)

lunar calendar and lunar calendar and solar calendar (360 solar calendar (360 days)days)

Science and Medicine:Science and Medicine:

understanding of a understanding of a variety of ailments variety of ailments and curesand cures

disease was seen as a disease was seen as a punishment for punishment for wrong-doingwrong-doing

supernatural supernatural elements in medical elements in medical practicepractice

medical records found medical records found with “prescriptions”with “prescriptions”

herbal remediesherbal remedies