2.2 Sumerian City-States and Inventions

Sumerian city-states were the heart of ancient Mesopotamian civilization. These independent urban centers, like Uruk and Ur, each had their own ruler and patron deity. They were built around massive ziggurats, stepped temples that served as religious and political hubs.

Sumerians made groundbreaking inventions that shaped human history. They created cuneiform writing, revolutionized agriculture with irrigation, and developed the wheel. Their social structure, with kings and priests at the top, laid the foundation for complex societies to come.

Sumerian City-States

Major City-States and Their Characteristics

Top images from around the web for Major City-States and Their Characteristics

• 

  Arquitectura sumeria - Wikipedia, la enciclopedia libre View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  City-States in Mesopotamia - CDA's World History Wiki View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  File:Ziggurat of ur.jpg - Wikipedia View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Arquitectura sumeria - Wikipedia, la enciclopedia libre View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  City-States in Mesopotamia - CDA's World History Wiki View original

  Is this image relevant?

1 of 3

Top images from around the web for Major City-States and Their Characteristics

• 

  Arquitectura sumeria - Wikipedia, la enciclopedia libre View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  City-States in Mesopotamia - CDA's World History Wiki View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  File:Ziggurat of ur.jpg - Wikipedia View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Arquitectura sumeria - Wikipedia, la enciclopedia libre View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  City-States in Mesopotamia - CDA's World History Wiki View original

  Is this image relevant?

1 of 3

• Sumerian civilization composed of several independent city-states, each with its own ruler and distinct identity, located in southern Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq) from around 3500 BCE to 1900 BCE
• Major Sumerian city-states included Uruk, Ur, Lagash, Nippur, Eridu, and Kish, each with its own patron deity and religious center
• City-states typically centered around a ziggurat, a massive stepped temple dedicated to the city's patron deity, which served as the religious, political, and economic hub of the city
• City-states often competed with one another for resources and power, engaging in trade, diplomacy, and warfare to maintain their influence and control over the region
• Despite their independence, city-states shared a common language, religion, and culture, which contributed to the development of a unified Sumerian civilization

Ziggurats and Their Significance

• Ziggurats were massive stepped temples that served as the religious, political, and economic center of each Sumerian city-state
• Dedicated to the city's patron deity, ziggurats were believed to be the earthly dwelling place of the gods and a point of connection between the divine and human realms
• Ziggurats were constructed of mud bricks and featured a series of terraces or steps leading to a shrine at the top, which was accessible only to priests and rulers
• The construction and maintenance of ziggurats required significant resources and labor, demonstrating the importance of religion and the temple in Sumerian society
• Ziggurats also served as a symbol of the city-state's power and prestige, with their impressive size and decoration reflecting the wealth and influence of the city and its rulers

Sumerian Society and Structure

Social Hierarchy and Roles

• Sumerian social structure was hierarchical, with the king at the top, followed by priests, scribes, and other officials, then merchants, artisans, and farmers, and finally slaves at the bottom
• The king, or en, was believed to be divinely appointed and served as the intermediary between the gods and the people, responsible for maintaining order, justice, and prosperity
• Priests and priestesses played a central role in Sumerian society, performing rituals, offering sacrifices, and communicating with the gods on behalf of the people
• Scribes were highly respected members of society, responsible for recording and preserving important information, such as laws, contracts, and historical events
• Merchants, artisans, and farmers made up the bulk of the Sumerian population, with each group playing a vital role in the economy and daily life of the city-state

Gender Roles and Family Structure

• Sumerian society was patriarchal, with men holding most positions of power and authority, while women's roles were primarily confined to the household and certain religious offices, such as priestesses
• Women were responsible for managing the household, raising children, and engaging in activities such as weaving, cooking, and brewing beer
• Marriage was an important institution in Sumerian society, with arranged marriages being common and serving to strengthen social and political alliances between families
• Sumerian families were typically extended, with multiple generations living together in the same household and working together to support the family's economic and social activities
• Children were highly valued in Sumerian society, with sons being particularly prized for their ability to carry on the family name and inherit property and social status

Sumerian Innovations and Culture

Writing and Literature

• Sumerians developed cuneiform, one of the earliest known systems of writing, which used wedge-shaped impressions on clay tablets to record information, ranging from economic transactions to religious texts and literary works
• Cuneiform writing allowed for the preservation and transmission of knowledge, ideas, and cultural traditions across generations and regions
• Sumerians created a rich body of literature, including epic poems like the "Epic of Gilgamesh," hymns, prayers, and myths, which provide insight into their beliefs, values, and way of life
• Sumerian literature often focused on themes of heroism, divine intervention, and the relationship between humans and the gods, reflecting the central role of religion in Sumerian culture
• The development of writing and literature in Sumerian society had a profound impact on the development of civilization in the ancient Near East and beyond, influencing later cultures and traditions

Agriculture and Technology

• Sumerian agriculture was highly advanced, with the development of irrigation systems, such as canals and levees, which allowed for the cultivation of crops in the arid Mesopotamian climate
• Major crops included barley, wheat, and dates, while livestock such as sheep, goats, and cattle were also raised for food and other products (wool, milk)
• Sumerians made significant advances in mathematics, including the development of a base-60 number system, which is still used today for measuring time and angles
• Sumerian inventions and innovations, such as the wheel, the plow, and the sailboat, had a lasting impact on the development of civilization in the ancient Near East and beyond
• The wheel, in particular, revolutionized transportation and trade, allowing for the efficient movement of goods and people over long distances
• The plow improved agricultural productivity, enabling farmers to cultivate larger areas of land and support growing populations

Architecture and Art

• Sumerian architecture was characterized by the use of mud-brick construction, with buildings such as temples, palaces, and city walls featuring decorative elements like mosaics, frescoes, and sculptured reliefs
• Ziggurats, the massive stepped temples that served as the center of each city-state, were the most impressive examples of Sumerian architecture, reflecting the importance of religion in Sumerian society
• Sumerian art, including sculpture, pottery, and metalwork, often depicted religious and mythological themes, as well as scenes from daily life and important historical events
• Sumerian artists were skilled in creating intricate and expressive works, using a variety of materials such as stone, clay, and precious metals (gold, silver)
• The Royal Cemetery of Ur, a complex of tombs dating back to around 2500 BCE, contained a wealth of artistic and cultural artifacts, including jewelry, musical instruments, and elaborate headdresses, providing insight into the wealth and sophistication of Sumerian society

Religion in Sumerian Society

Pantheon and Beliefs

• Sumerians believed in a pantheon of gods and goddesses who controlled various aspects of nature and human life, such as fertility, war, and wisdom
• Major deities included An (god of the heavens), Enlil (god of the air and earth), Enki (god of wisdom and water), Inanna (goddess of love and war), and Utu (god of the sun and justice)
• Each city-state had its own patron deity, who was believed to reside in the city's main temple or ziggurat, and was responsible for the well-being and prosperity of the city and its inhabitants
• Sumerians believed that humans were created to serve the gods and that their primary purpose was to maintain the cosmic order and ensure the continued functioning of the universe
• The gods were seen as powerful and sometimes capricious beings who could reward or punish humans based on their actions and devotion

Temples and Religious Practices

• Temples served as the center of religious, political, and economic life in Sumerian city-states, with priests and priestesses performing rituals, offering sacrifices, and communicating with the gods on behalf of the people
• Temples owned large tracts of land, controlled trade, and employed a significant portion of the population, making them powerful economic and political institutions in Sumerian society
• Religious festivals and ceremonies, such as the New Year's festival and the sacred marriage ritual, were important occasions for public participation and celebration, reinforcing social bonds and cultural identity
• The sacred marriage ritual, in which the king symbolically married the goddess Inanna, was believed to ensure the fertility and prosperity of the land and the people
• Sumerian religion also involved the use of divination, such as reading the entrails of animals or interpreting dreams, to communicate with the gods and gain insight into the future
• Burial practices were an important aspect of Sumerian religion, with the dead being buried with grave goods and offerings to ensure their well-being in the afterlife