SumeriansSumerians

The End of the Neolithic EraThe End of the Neolithic Era(Introduction) (Introduction)

During the end of the Neolithic Era, humans During the end of the Neolithic Era, humans had learned how to farm, domesticate had learned how to farm, domesticate animals, build city-states, and develop animals, build city-states, and develop cultures. But something was about to push cultures. But something was about to push them even further than the Neolithic them even further than the Neolithic Revolution; the dawn of civilization. The first Revolution; the dawn of civilization. The first civilization, the Sumerians were in civilization, the Sumerians were in Mesopotamia, or the Middle East. This place Mesopotamia, or the Middle East. This place was called the fertile crescent because its was called the fertile crescent because its fertility. Its richness was due to the water from fertility. Its richness was due to the water from the Tigress and Euphrates river. Also the soil the Tigress and Euphrates river. Also the soil there was naturally well made for agriculture. there was naturally well made for agriculture. This helped them advance. Some of the effects This helped them advance. Some of the effects the Sumerians made were: their effect on the Sumerians made were: their effect on writing, laws, math, transportation, and trade.writing, laws, math, transportation, and trade.

Table of ContentsTable of Contents

Effect in Laws Effect in Writing

Effect in Mathematics

Effect in homes

Effect in agriculture

and transportation.

BibliographySumerian domination

Sumerian’s effect on Writing Sumerian’s effect on Writing The first official writing was created by the Sumerians. The first official writing was created by the Sumerians.

The writing was called cuneiform and resembled The writing was called cuneiform and resembled symbols much similar to the hieroglyphics from the symbols much similar to the hieroglyphics from the Egyptians. Cuneiform actually means wedge-shaped Egyptians. Cuneiform actually means wedge-shaped and was written on tablets of clay tablets. “Pencils” and was written on tablets of clay tablets. “Pencils” were made from blunt reeds currently called a were made from blunt reeds currently called a stylus. People who used this language wrote from stylus. People who used this language wrote from right to left like Hebrew. Sumerian tablets could be right to left like Hebrew. Sumerian tablets could be fired up in kilns to make permanent. This writing was fired up in kilns to make permanent. This writing was shared by the differed languages: Akkadian, Elamite, shared by the differed languages: Akkadian, Elamite, Hittite, Assyrian, and the Luwian. This language was Hittite, Assyrian, and the Luwian. This language was used in Mesopotamia; Babylonia, Sumerians, and used in Mesopotamia; Babylonia, Sumerians, and Jordans for about Jordans for about

3,000 years! 3,000 years!

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Sumerian's effect in mathematics Sumerian's effect in mathematics One of the things that helped shape the One of the things that helped shape the

modern world was the effect Sumerians had modern world was the effect Sumerians had in mathematics. They first used math to in mathematics. They first used math to keep records on goods and trading on clay keep records on goods and trading on clay tablets. Gradually, a system took root, and tablets. Gradually, a system took root, and they created sixty different symbols and they created sixty different symbols and then made the first “metric system”. Ten then made the first “metric system”. Ten cones equaled one small circle; six small cones equaled one small circle; six small circles equaled one big cone, ten big cones circles equaled one big cone, ten big cones equaled was a big cone with a circle inside equaled was a big cone with a circle inside it, six of those was a large circle and ten it, six of those was a large circle and ten large circles was given by a large circle with large circles was given by a large circle with a small circle inside. They also began to a small circle inside. They also began to make fractions up to one-sixtieth. make fractions up to one-sixtieth.

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Sumerian’s effect in Sumerian’s effect in transportation and transportation and agricultureagricultureThe Sumerian were at the The Sumerian were at the

base of the Mesopotamian base of the Mesopotamian mountains which had lots mountains which had lots of ice. When the ice of ice. When the ice melted, water came melted, water came flooding down. During the flooding down. During the rest of the year, the base rest of the year, the base was a arid desert. Early was a arid desert. Early Sumerians decided they Sumerians decided they need a way to control the need a way to control the water. A solution was they water. A solution was they would build dams to catch would build dams to catch the falling water. Then the falling water. Then they would build irrigation they would build irrigation canals to transfer the canals to transfer the water back to the crops. If water back to the crops. If the crops over-flooded, the the crops over-flooded, the other canals would bring it other canals would bring it back to the lake.back to the lake.

Since the Sumerians were surrounded by two waters and some of the villages were far apart, sometimes it was hard to contact and trade among each other. So, Sumerian architects devised a plan. They used wood planks and tied them together with flexible wood. After that, they built some shelter on the raft and presto! They could travel down the river to interact with each other. Another way people got around was on land. They would sit on horses, mules, or donkeys and ride them. Saddles, were usually built with four outward pertaining hangers. Sumerians would place there belongings and bring them with them.

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Sumerian’s effect in homesSumerian’s effect in homesSumerian’s homes were much similar to that of the Sumerian’s homes were much similar to that of the

humans during the Neolithic Revolution. The humans during the Neolithic Revolution. The Sumerians built their houses out of mud and clay. Sumerians built their houses out of mud and clay. They reinforced their houses out of wood poles. After They reinforced their houses out of wood poles. After that, they would build opening in the top to prevent that, they would build opening in the top to prevent animals from getting into their homes. Inside the animals from getting into their homes. Inside the homes, the basement was usually as a shrine to the homes, the basement was usually as a shrine to the gods and goddesses and a burial for the dead. There gods and goddesses and a burial for the dead. There would also be basins to store food and also to keep would also be basins to store food and also to keep important articles. For horticulture and agriculture, important articles. For horticulture and agriculture, they would build wood or hardened mud posts or they would build wood or hardened mud posts or walls for agriculture. With these walls, the animals walls for agriculture. With these walls, the animals couldn’t escape. All the houses were connected couldn’t escape. All the houses were connected enabling more people to live in these “condos”. enabling more people to live in these “condos”.

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Sumerian’s effect in laws Sumerian’s effect in laws Though Sumerians didn’t have Though Sumerians didn’t have

nearly the advancement of nearly the advancement of laws of the Babylonians, the laws of the Babylonians, the Sumerians had the law Sumerians had the law fundamentals. Similar to fundamentals. Similar to that of the presidents and that of the presidents and vice presidents of today, vice presidents of today, the Sumerians had a king the Sumerians had a king and lower representatives. and lower representatives. They would make decisions They would make decisions and lead sacrifices. Another and lead sacrifices. Another thing kings would do is thing kings would do is construct temples in honor construct temples in honor of them or solve problems. of them or solve problems. Also, they would live in Also, they would live in spacious temples and would spacious temples and would keep power through priests. keep power through priests. They were the first to wear They were the first to wear jewelry such as crown. jewelry such as crown.

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Sumerian Armies StructureSumerian Armies StructureSome kings wanted to Some kings wanted to

dominate other lands for dominate other lands for wealth, power, and wealth, power, and popularity. In order to do popularity. In order to do that, Sumerians had to form that, Sumerians had to form an army. However, the an army. However, the Sumerians form a merciless Sumerians form a merciless and aggressive army. Each and aggressive army. Each soldier was protected with soldier was protected with bronze Sumerian helmets bronze Sumerian helmets and armor and were armed and armor and were armed with Bronze spears and with Bronze spears and solid shields. One of their solid shields. One of their strongest and most strongest and most powerful invention was the powerful invention was the offensive chariots which offensive chariots which were pulled by horses and were pulled by horses and rode them into battle. The rode them into battle. The riders probably were armed riders probably were armed with spears and shields like with spears and shields like the rest of the warriors in the rest of the warriors in the army. They invaded and the army. They invaded and conquered most of current conquered most of current day Iran and the northern day Iran and the northern part of the Middle East. part of the Middle East.

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Bibliography Bibliography

http://www.crystalinks.com/sumerwrihttp://www.crystalinks.com/sumerwriting.htmlting.html

http://www.crystalinks.com/http://www.crystalinks.com/sumermath.htmlsumermath.html

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