Sumerian

Civilization
General Education 6: Science, Technology, and
Society

OLIVERIO, Patricia Anne

UMEREWENEZA, Abigael Love
GRANJA, Alaica
MASIADO, Pearl
TUDAYAN, Jeruel Franz

April 12, 2021

 Sumer (Ancient region: Iraq)
• site of the earliest known civilization,
located in the southernmost part of
Mesopotamia, between the Tigris and
Euphrates rivers
• later became Babylonia (now
southern Iraq, from around Baghdad
to the Persian Gulf)
 Geography of Fertile Crescent
• the Fertile Crescent is often called
the “cradle of civilization,” named for
its rich soils
• a strip of fertile land (suited for
farming)
• much like Egypt, societies revolved
around flooding waters to irrigate
fields
Economy
• Sumerian city-states was based on
farming and trade
• Industry became an important
factor in civilization as well
• The people of Mesopotamia were
known for their metal work, woolen
textiles, and pottery
• Copper, tin, and timber were
imported goods exchanged for
dried fish, wheat, and metal goods
• Around 3000 BC, the invention of
the wheel was created making
transportation of goods easier and
quicker
 Social
Structure
• Three major social groups: Nobles,
commoners, and the slaves
Ø The nobles included many
of the royal and religious
officials
Ø The commoners worked for
palace and temple domain,
they also worked as farmers,
merchants, and crafts
people
Ø Slaves worked in building
buildings and also belonged
to the palace officials
• More than 90% of the people in
Mesopotamia were farmers due to
the rick soil
Contributions
Cuneiform
• one of the oldest forms of writing known

• means “wedge-shaped” because people wrote it using

a reed stylus cut to make a wedge-shaped mark on a
clay tablet

• historical accounts have also come to light, as have

huge libraries such as that belonging to the Assyrian
king, Ashurbanipal (668-627 B.C.E.)

• used to record a variety of information (temple activities,

business, and trades)

• used to write stories, myths, and personal letters

• latest known example: astronomical text from C.E. 75

(Cuneiform was used to write around 15 different languages
including Sumerian, Akkadian, Babylonian, Assyrian, Elamite,
Hittite, Urartian, and Old Persian)
 Wheel
• Sumerians were able to invent the
wheel since the specialized tools
needed to were already available.

• The first wheel’ were actually used to

food processes, farm work,
construction and other communal
activities.

• The wheel was developed through a

total of 6 stages before becoming the
‘wheel’ we know to day 9 (roller,
sledge, sledge of rollers, a sledge on
a grooved roller, wheel)

• The invention made transportation

and food mass production easier and
faster.
Irrigation and Dikes
• Irrigation was extremely vital to
Mesopotamia, Greek for "the land between
the rivers”

• Sumerians practiced the same irrigation

techniques as those used in Egypt

• the world’s first and most beneficial

engineering works

• It was solution to problems regarding bodies

of water in Mesopotamia such as flooding,
farmland maintenance and scarce supply of
water

• Benefitted agriculture the most because

Sumerian agriculture depended heavily on
irrigation (food mass production)
 Sailboat
• before, people walked and rode on
donkeys to travel

• Sumerians then advanced from foot

travel to boat and to sailboat

• Sailboats accommodated more

people and products than boats.

• Sailboats introduced the idea of

trade over water as well as naval
battles.

• The sailboat was primarily invented

to help people of Sumer to be able to
make trade and travel large over
distances more efficient.
 Uruk City
• Considered to be the first true city in the world
but also for the way it was erected. There were no
building stones in the location of this city and
lumber was limited, making the construction a
big challenge.

• The summerians were able to build the city using

only mud or clay from the river, which they mixed
with reeds, producing sun-baked bricks (a true
engineering feat).

• They used the bricks to make houses that

protected them from the harsh weather and to
build a wall around the city that prevented wild
animals and neighboring raiders from entering.
The Great Ziggurat of UR
• The Ziggurat, also
called the mountain of
God, was built in the
same manner that they
constructed the City of
Uruk.

• The structure was

constructed using sun-
baked bricks.

• The temple showcases

not only elaborate and
intricate Summerian
architecture but also
the remarkable
technology used to
build it.
 Plow
• Humans evolve from being food
gatherers to farm cultivators.
However, farmers needed a
technology which would enable
them to dig the ground where
seeds would be planted.

• The plow was then invented to dig

the earth in a faster pace.

• As the plow breaks the ground, the

farmer would just drop the seeds
and farm work would already done.
With this tool, farmers could
cultivate larger parcels of land
faster, enabling them to mass
produce food without taking so
much effort and time.
 Roads
• In order to facilitate faster and easier
travel, the Summerians developed
the first roads. With this work, the
flow of traffic became faster and
more organized.

• They made the roads with the same

technology they used in making the
sun-baked bricks that they laid down
on the ground.

• They later poured bitumen, a black

sticky substance similar to asphalt,
to smoothen the roads.

• useful especially during the rainy

season when travelling in soft and
muddy roads proved to be too
difficult
Calendar
The Sumerians prepared calendar to determine the
months and year. They divided one year into 12 lunar
months. They determined a month on the basis of the
movement of moon. Each month was divided into 30
days. After some years the Sumerian kings added one
month more in a year and made it 13 months. Their
calendar was defective because it could not adjust 5
days in a year, thus making it 365 days (360+5 extra).
That is why they had to change the calendar time and
again. Later on, the Hebrews and Arabians accepted
the Sumerian calendar after modification.
 Architechture
The Sumerians left indelible foot prints on
the sands of time by erecting many cities,
palaces Ziggurats. They used burnt bricks for
the construction of different structures. The
Ziggurats were seven or eight storeyed
buildings and were narrower around the top.
They gave proper attention to give a
finishing touch to, every architecture. They
knew to column, vault, arch and dome with
proportion.
 Water Clock
The Sumerians used water clock
to measure the time. They
divided one hour into 60
minutes and each minute into 60
seconds. The water fell down
drop by drop from the hole of a
pot. The Sumerians got idea
about the time by looking at the
marks given in the pot. This was
a unique invention of the
Sumerians.
 Trade and Commerce
The Sumerians were very With the advancement of
capable in the field of time, the Sumerians
trade and commerce. It is accepted silver instead of
known that they food grains. Thus, the
maintained trade and Sumerian civilization was
commercial relation with the first manifestation of
Asian countries including the Mesopotamian
India. They also civilization. The
maintained commercial characteristics of the
relation with Egypt. The civilization reflect its
city Ur earned fame as a contributions. The
centre of international Sumerian civilization
trade and commerce. The came to an end by the
Sumerians imported invasion of the Akkadians
mainly food grains and around 2500 B.C. This
exported wool, silk-dress, contributed variously to
metallic goods and dates. the culture of the world.
Fabrication of Copper
• Copper was the earliest non-precious metal first used by the
Sumerians (5000 BC)

• The discovery of this process is one of the greatest

inventions in Mesopotamia which also helped with the
growth of various cities (Uruk, Sumer, al’Ubaid, and Ur.)

• At first, copper was used to made arrowheads, razors,

harpoons, and other small objects, but as the years passed,
the Sumerians also started making copper jugs, vessels, and
chisels.

• The objects which they made showcased the excellent

craftsmanship of the Sumerians. The Imdugud Relief of 3100
BC is a great example of copper craftsmanship.

• Discovered in al’Ubaid, it depicts an eagle with a lion’s head

with two stags either side which appear to be held up by the
eagle. Copper was beaten to form the images of these
creatures and then framed in wood.
Fabrication of Copper
 Facts about Ancient Sumerians
1. One of the larger Sumerian cities may have had 80,000 residents.
2. The list of Sumerian rulers includes one woman.
3. The Sumerian city-states were often at war with one another.
4. Sumerians were famously fond of beer. (mga palahubog charot)
5. Cuneiform writing was used for over 3,000 years.
6. The Sumerians were well-traveled rade merchants.
7. The hero of the Epic of Gilgamesh was probably a real Sumerian historical figure.
8. Sumerian mathematics and measurements are still used today.
9. Sumerian culture was lost to history until the 19th century.
Summary
 End of presentation

Thank you!