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Overview of Sumerians● their land, “Sumer,” is sometimes considered the,
“cradle of civilization”● they called themselves, “the black-headed people”● they had a polytheistic religion - they believed in
many gods● they are credited with the creation of the world’s
first writing system● they had invented the following by 3600 B.C.
○ the wheel and axle○ irrigation○ concept of city
Sumerian King List
● cuneiform document● written during the Third Dynasty
of Ur● lists many of the kings of the region
(Sumer) and their accomplishments● created to legitimize the reign of
Utu-Hengal of Uruk● King Etana of Kish was the first
one recorded on the list○ he later became famous for superhero
feats and heroism
Ubaid Period ~ c. 5000-4100 B.C.● the first people in Sumer, before the Sumerians,
were the Ubaid● they were hunter-gatherers● the first evidence of their existence was discovered
at Al-Ubaid● at Al-Ubaid, archaeologists
have found…○ stone tools○ sickles○ bricks○ painted pottery○ figurines
Uruk Period ~ c. 4100-2900 B.C. ● cities began to emerge across Sumer● the first city, Uruk rises in prominence● cities begin to trade with foreign lands● write begins to evolve
○ first to pictograms○ then to cuneiform
● kingship began to rise○ cities were ruled by a priest-king called an
ensi○ the ensi was aided in decisions by a council of
elders○ the council of elders was made up of both
men and women
Early Dynastic Period ~ c. 2900-2334 B.C.
● the rule of the cities shifted from ensis to lugals (more like modern “kings”)○ “lugal” translates to “big man”
● the cities of Sumer fought one another for land and water rights
● In 2500 B.C...○ Lagash began to rise under king
Eannatum○ Lagash grew to an empire that contained
most of Sumer and parts of Elam
Akkadian Empire ~ c. 2334-2218 B.C.● King Sargon I
○ Sargon of Kish, killed the king of Kish after the he tried to have him killed
○ he became king of Kish○ with control of the Kish armies, he attacked Uruk, Ur, etc.
creating his own empire● first multi-national empire in the world● ruled over most of
Mesopotamia● Unified Sumerian
city-states
Gutian Period ~ c. 2218-2047 B.C.
● began when Gutians invaded Akkadia from the north and destroyed the major cities
● the Akkadian Empire collapsed
● the, “Dark Age,” of Sumerian history
● some Sumerian writers considered the Gutians punishments from the gods
Ur III Period ~ c. 2047-1940 B.C.● named for the Third Dynasty of Ur● sometimes called, “the Sumerian Renaissance”● there were many advances in Sumerian
culture○ Sumerian sexigesimal system
■ 60 seconds in a minute■ 60 minutes in an hour■ Night and Day - 12 hours
○ King Ur-Nammu made the first legal system○ King Shulgi was considered the greatest neo-
sumerian king■ he ran 100 miles between Nippur and Ur over and
over again to conduct festivals in both cities
King Shulgi
Fall of Sumerian Civilization ~c. 1940-1720 B.C.
● During King Shulgi’s reign, a wall was built to keep out barbarians from Elam (Amorites, etc.)
● In c. 1940 B.C. the Amorites breached the wall, marched on Ur, and carried off the king
● Sumer fell into famine, due to overuse of land and the settling Amorites
● In c. 1720 B.C. the forces of the Amorite city of Babylon marched on Sumer, and the last king of Sumer faced defeat.
● Sumer became part of the Babylonian empire