6th+hour+2011-2012+sumer

Sumer, Mesopotamia **Ancient Civilization** The Sumerians created a written language called cuneiform that was based on picture writing. They invented tools and developed special knowledge to improve their lives. Their society was divided into several classes, with kings at the top and slaves at the bottom. First plows were digging sticks pulled or pushed by people, animals to broke up soil for easier planting, water to get to plantsʼ roots. They were among first to use bronze—mixture of copper, tin bronze stronger than copper, lasted longer, stayed sharper bronze tools could be traded. **Social Classes**

=
They had their social classes that were called rolling families like the kings and empires. Upper class also consisted of Nobles, priests, government officials and warriors. Middle class was merchants and lower priests that worked in the churches. Artisans also made up the Middle or "Freeman" Class. The base of the classes was present framers some owned their own land but most worked for the kings or temples.The women were just like the slaves, not free so they were on the base of the social class. The social classes were just a population dispute. (Gaynor Ellis, Esler, World History connect to Today 1987)( Crystalinks.com, Social Systems - Women - War - Slavery – Dissidents) ======



**Religion** ==== The religion was a lot of groups mingling and contribution to history of the religion. Religion was worshiped by many gods. Sumerian religion has its roots in the worship of nature, such as the wind and water. The gods of Sumerians were human in form and maintained human traits. Even though the gods were immortal and all-powerful, it was apparent that they could be hurt and even killed. Each god had a set of rules of divine authority. The temple was the center of worship, each city usually had a large temple dedicated to their patron god. (Crystalinks.com, Sumerians Religion.)(Gaynor Ellis, Esler, World History connect to today. 1987) ====



** Art/ Architecture **

=
Art and Architecture is a beautiful and creative way to express culture and life through the years. Sumerian art is about exploring and supporting the relationships between people, the gods, the plants, and animals. Ancient Middle East, and the oldest literature works in the world. It’s called The Epic of Gilgamesh.Were ways the Sumerians told stories of their times, and ways that they expressed their culture and religion. Now they're ancient artifacts that can tell and show us what went on in their times. (Gaynor Ellis, Esler, World History connect to Today1987) ======

** Government ** **﻿**  The Sumerian government was a very big body of officials. They controlled the large areas of land and many people. The middle management, which consisted many priests, controlled people with power given to them by the state. The responsibilities were making sure the land was kept in order and giving out food. There was never a Sumerian empire and leaders constantly changed. Leaders like Hammurabi where made the successful laws. ** ( Fowler,2006) **

** Written Language **

Sumerian writing is the oldest full-fledged writing that archaeologists have discovered. The Sumerian made up an alphabet that contained about 300 symbols repenting syllables. Also 22 symbols standing for consonant sound. The Sumerians wrote arithmetic based on units of ten (the number of fingers on both hands).The Sumerians wrote poetically, describing events as the work of their gods, and they wrote to please their gods. The Sumerians wrote by pressing picture representations into wet clay with a pen, and they dried the clay to form tablets. They streamlined their pictures into symbols called ideograms, and they added symbols for spoken sounds, forming what is called cuneiform. (Gaynor Ellis, Esler, World History connect to Today 1987) **(Smitha, written language)**



** Job Specialization/ Public Work **

The middle class were more skilled, then the lower class in a lot of thing. The middle class had jobs such as government officials, shopkeepers, and artisans. The lower class did stuff such as farming, fishing, and the other jobs that upper class men do want. They were ll paid for their work but the slaves weren’t. Other jobs that I did say are pottery makers, stone cutters, bricklayers, metal smiths, farmers, fishers, shepherds, weavers, leather-workers, and sailors. //**(Gaynor Ellis, Esler, World History connect to Today1987) **// **(Ask.com, What were some jobs in Sumerian?)**

** Cities **

Sumerian cities of Urnk and Jamdat Nasr began to rise in power during the prehistorical Uhbaid periods, or what we call ancient Sumer or modern day Iraq ( Eeriu, et al, unknown). Inside he city, highly cultivated gardens were kept. The main source of food and surplus came from fields outside of the cities, irrigated by system of canals from the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. The Sumerians people lived in twelve cities states, famous among which are Sumer and Ur. They shared a common language, Sumerians. Sumerians language does not exist today:, it disappeared from history and is no longer a spoken language. It is still written language. Inside the city, the tradition of big gardens is still important.**(Kaufman, 2011).**



** Conclusion **

The Sumerians were a kind land. They lived in the prehistoric Ubaid and Uruk periods. They migrated from the East; either ancient India or Iran. Were unrelated on the basis of their language to the various groups in speaking Semitic languages. Their rulers were defeated, but the people were incorporated into other regimes, as were their cities, fields, etc. The land is now what you know as India. (Gaynor Ellis, Elser, World History connect to today1987) (Ancientneareast.tripod.com , Ancient Sumerians History) Work cited - []. - The Outline of History - www.strayreality.com - Earth.com - Google.com/images

__ http://ancientneareast.tripod.com/Sumer.htm __

[]

[]