Technological and EnvironmentalChanges of Sumer

By: Jake Adcock, Ashlee Barron, Madison Harris Hannah Johnson,

and Jordan Mount.

Human-Environment Interaction

• Showed fewer characteristics of individual cities.• There were no specific record of disease.• The Ubaidians were the first main force in Sumer, they

developed strong trade, agriculture, and establishing industries such as, weaving, metalwork, leatherwork, masonry, and pottery.

• Relied heavily on fishing, but also bred goats, sheep, and cattle.

• Barley was the main crop, they also grew, wheat, grapes, plums, apples, dates, and flax.

Culture• Sumerian religious roots came from them worshipping nature - something they

didn't understand. At first they worshiped wind and water itself, but later on they transformed the nature into gods that represented certain forms of nature.

• Sumerian philosophies - True philosophy was not introduced until the Greeks came, which was around 600 B.C.E The Sumerians had observations involving simple ethics known as wisdom texts.

• Sumerian Science - Invented the wheel 3700 B.C.E., developed a math system with the numeral sixty, first used leather, system of weights and measures, complex sewer and flush toilet system.

• Sumerian Art - Paint and sculpture were their main forms. Art was used for mostly religious purposes. Clay was the most abundant resource. Art was very ornate and complex.

• Sumerian Architecture - Made of clay masonry bricks - deteriorated easily - would often tear down and rebuild in the same spots.

Political Aspects of Sumer• Sumerians arose around 4000 B.C.E and by 3800 B.C.E they had

supplemented the Ubaidians and the Semites.• At least twelve cities sprung up, four of which are; Ur, Uruk, Kish, and

Lagash. Ur was the largest with around 24,000 citizens. Large agricultural fields surrounded the city, and trade was a major part of life.

• The kings sent out troops to plunder villages nearby, captured slaves mainly for the purpose of concubines and domestics. They justified slavery by believing that the gods has given them power over an inferior people.

• The idea of being dominate was part of Sumer, and they in turn dominated those around them. Around 2800 B.C.E the city of Kish became the first to control all of Sumer. This in turn caused a revolt from the city of Lagash against Kish.

Economics of Sumer• Agriculture practiced year round. Early development of

writing formed here. Traded and domesticated animals. Developed 12 independent city-states by the 4 millennium BC. Each centered around a temple.

• They began to keep records, needs for property increased. Got even more tightly organized city- states where agricultural hinterland was ruled by an urban based king.

• One of the unique things Sumer did was they defined boundaries specifically with states. Kings are war leaders. Reliance on slaves. Noble classes and priesthood had considerable power. They used silver for buying and trading.

Social Statuses in Sumer• Upper Class contained nobles, priests, government officials and

warriors.• Merchants, traders and artisans made up a middle or "freeman" class.• It was a highly patriarch society.• The schooling was associated with the priesthood and took place in

temples.• The serfs and slaves made up majority of population and were

responsible for all manual labor.• The indigenous Sumerians and Akkadians dominated Mesopotamia

from the beginning of written history (c. 3100 BC) to the fall of Babylon in 539 BC, when it was conquered by the Achaemnid Empire.

Pretty Pictures

• Human- Environment Interaction: http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/573176/Sumer , http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/376828/history-of-Mesopotamia/55467/Sumerian-civilization?anchor=toc55467

• http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/9647/origins-of-agriculture/10767/Sumer?anchor=ref292173

• Culture: www.sarissa.org/sumer/sumer_rel.php ; http://rebirthofreason.com/Articles/Zantonavitch/Sumerian_Philosophy.shtml

http://higherintellect.info/texts/other/crystalinks/sumerscience.html http://www.enotes.com/topic/Sumerian_architecture

• Politics: http://www.fsmitha.com/h1/ch01.htm• Economics: • Social: http://www.crystalinks.com/sumersocialsystem.html