Sumer

1. Geography & Agriculture

1.1. Fields surrounded the cities

1.2. Over time they developed methods to control water

1.3. As early as 5500 B.C. people were farming in southern mesopotamia

1.4. The fertile crescent

2. Religion

2.1. Performed ceremonies to serve the gods

2.2. believed that the gods controlled all natural forces

2.3. They practiced polytheism

2.4. They worked hard to please the gods

3. Social Structure & Family

3.1. Formed a City-State, a political unit with its own government

3.2. men held political powers and laws, while women took care of the home and children

3.3. kings, priests, and their principle agents were at the top of the social structure

3.4. at the bottom of the social structure is slaves and in the middle is most sumerians

4. Government & Leaders

4.1. Priests initially governed the city-states.

4.2. Chiefs began to rule as kings.

4.3. A dynasty is a series of rulers from one family.

4.4. The government performed saramonies to praise the gods.

5. Economy & Trade

5.1. Traded timber and stone.

5.2. Lacked raw materials

5.3. Exchange woven textiles

5.4. Traded with the people across Southwest Asia and beyond

6. Science & Technology

6.1. They invented the wheel

6.2. used the wheel to make pottery and to build a variety of vehicles

6.3. invented the plow

6.4. collected and cataloged an impressive amount of medical knowledge

7. Arts & Education

7.1. Sumarian writings were called Cuniforms

7.2. to write Sumerians used sharp tools called Styluses to make wedge-shaped symbols

7.3. becoming a scribe required years of schooling but was a way to move in social class

7.4. Most famous works of art were its cylinder seals and small stone cylinders engraved all around with detailed designs