SUMER: THE FIRST CIVILIZATION
And on that day, we praised and cheered to the magnitude of our achievement. As, we watched the first priest raise his right hand and we bowed down to his wisdom. We felt so achieved having broken the sky with our mighty tower of worship. We called it a Ziggurat, and it became the place of our worship and praise to our patron god. This is our tribute to the gods,and our lasting mark on history. Welcome to Sumer.
BACKGROUND AND ESSENTIAL INFORMATION
The Sumerians were the first people of the first civilization in Mesopotamia. Specifically, the first that can be called "Sumerians" was a non-Semitic people called proto-Euphrateans or Ubaidians. Later on, Semitic people would invade and assimilate the Ubaidian culture and add their own culture, creating a pre-Sumerian civilization.
As shown in the map, the Sumerians were located in the Tigris-Euphrates Valley and were very close to the Persian Gulf. The Sumerians lasted from 3200 to 2350 BCE.
The Sumerians were advanced in art and invention. Cuneiform, the first known human writing, was developed by the Sumerians. they also founded the science of astronomy and improved on mathematics such as geometry. They created major constellation charts and developed a way to calculate circles and time.
Sumerians used silver as a means of currency, and actually made contact and shared ideas and goods with the Ancient Egyptians. Like most civilizations at the time, agriculture was the main source of economy.
The Sumerians were the first people of the first civilization in Mesopotamia. Specifically, the first that can be called "Sumerians" was a non-Semitic people called proto-Euphrateans or Ubaidians. Later on, Semitic people would invade and assimilate the Ubaidian culture and add their own culture, creating a pre-Sumerian civilization.
As shown in the map, the Sumerians were located in the Tigris-Euphrates Valley and were very close to the Persian Gulf. The Sumerians lasted from 3200 to 2350 BCE.
The Sumerians were advanced in art and invention. Cuneiform, the first known human writing, was developed by the Sumerians. they also founded the science of astronomy and improved on mathematics such as geometry. They created major constellation charts and developed a way to calculate circles and time.
Sumerians used silver as a means of currency, and actually made contact and shared ideas and goods with the Ancient Egyptians. Like most civilizations at the time, agriculture was the main source of economy.
SPOTLIGHT: EPIC OF GILGAMESH
The Epic of Gilgamesh is a Sumerian story written on twelve clay tablets in cuneiform. It is known as the oldest story to date, as well as one of the most famous.
The Story centers around the King of Uruk, Gilgamesh. After oppressing his people, Gilgamesh is acknowledged by the gods, and they send Enkidu, a wild-man to deter his oppression of his people. Together, Gilgamesh and Enkidu go on adventures of demon vanquishing. After Enkidu dies, Gilgamesh goes on a quest for immortality and realizes that man shouldn't have such a thing in the first place.
The best copies of this epic were found in the library ruins of 7th century BCE Assyrian king, Ashurbanipal.
The Epic of Gilgamesh is a Sumerian story written on twelve clay tablets in cuneiform. It is known as the oldest story to date, as well as one of the most famous.
The Story centers around the King of Uruk, Gilgamesh. After oppressing his people, Gilgamesh is acknowledged by the gods, and they send Enkidu, a wild-man to deter his oppression of his people. Together, Gilgamesh and Enkidu go on adventures of demon vanquishing. After Enkidu dies, Gilgamesh goes on a quest for immortality and realizes that man shouldn't have such a thing in the first place.
The best copies of this epic were found in the library ruins of 7th century BCE Assyrian king, Ashurbanipal.
SPOTLIGHT: ZIGGURATS AND RELIGION
The jobs of many men in Sumerian society was to build Ziggurats. These were towers and temples built as places of worship for the patron god of each city. Prayers and offerings were an integral part of Sumerian lifestyle.
Sumerians believed that divine forces manifested themselves in natural entities (rivers, streams, mountains). Like many similar religions, it was a polytheistic one.
Priests operated these Ziggurats. The Sumerian religion dealt with divine forces in nature, explaining things such as agriculture. It was the first religion that had a concept of Hell, and that influenced the Old Testament. This gave the religion a gloomy feeling.
The jobs of many men in Sumerian society was to build Ziggurats. These were towers and temples built as places of worship for the patron god of each city. Prayers and offerings were an integral part of Sumerian lifestyle.
Sumerians believed that divine forces manifested themselves in natural entities (rivers, streams, mountains). Like many similar religions, it was a polytheistic one.
Priests operated these Ziggurats. The Sumerian religion dealt with divine forces in nature, explaining things such as agriculture. It was the first religion that had a concept of Hell, and that influenced the Old Testament. This gave the religion a gloomy feeling.
SPOTLIGHT: CITY-STATES
City-states were the main political organization of Sumeria. These were presided over by a king, who usually claimed divine right. Many of these kings were originally military leaders.
In many of the city states, kings and other members of the higher class controlled the majority of the land, and actually instituted slavery to maintain this land.
There were 12 Sumerian city-states: Kish, Uruk, Ur, Sippar, Akshak, Larak, Nippur, Addab, Umma, Lagash, Bad-Tabira, and Larsa.
City-states were the main political organization of Sumeria. These were presided over by a king, who usually claimed divine right. Many of these kings were originally military leaders.
In many of the city states, kings and other members of the higher class controlled the majority of the land, and actually instituted slavery to maintain this land.
There were 12 Sumerian city-states: Kish, Uruk, Ur, Sippar, Akshak, Larak, Nippur, Addab, Umma, Lagash, Bad-Tabira, and Larsa.