Sumerians


 * Major Accomplishments** [[image:cuneiform.jpg width="225" height="228" align="right" caption="cuneiform"]]
 * first civilization-
 * cuneiform--wet clay that has triangles and lines
 * cuneiform is the ancient writing process of the Sumerians
 * developed wagon wheel
 * Pottery to store grain
 * first to make bronze out of tin and copper for metal plow
 * Invented: Arch, ramps, domes, clay bricks
 * Algebra- used 60 as the basis of the number system. 60 minutes, 360 degrees
 * Unique Features**
 * craftworkers
 * poets--[|Gilgamesh]
 * believed by some historians to have influenced the Bible
 * textiles--wool from sheep
 * Independent City-States**
 * Kish, Lagash, Umma, Ur, and Uruk
 * Kish--on the Euphrates river, palaces found of Sargon and Nebuchadnezzar II
 * Lagash--on the Tigris river, after Sumer regained control after the Guti conquered, Lagash was the only city-state which remained independant
 * Umma--Royal inscription of Gishakidu, sacred writing on metal plates: inscription


 * Ziggurat:** A stepped building located in the center of the city-state. On top was the temple to the god of the city. They were Polythesistic and each city state had a Ziggurat dedicated to their own god..
 * Historical Events/Connection****s**
 * 2300s BCE : Uruk takes over Sumer
 * Shortly after... : Sargon of Akkad conquered Sumer
 * 2100 BCE : Ur takes control...then take over Assyria and Elam
 * 2300-539 BCE : Semites rule Sumer
 * Conqoured by Sargon
 * eventually taken over by Babylonians[[image:ur-cape.jpg width="267" height="191" align="right" caption="Puabi's Treasures"]]
 * Roles of Men and Women**
 * men-head of the household[[image:file:ur-cape.jpg]]
 * men could sell their wives or children[[image:file:ur-map.jpg]]
 * women-not as powerful, but were able to buy and sell property
 * [[image:file:ur-head.jpg]]women could also buy, own and sell their own slaves


 * Royal Tomb Of UR**
 * 4500 year old cemetery
 * the city is known in the Bible as Abraham the patriarch's home[[image:file:ur-head.jpg]]
 * **Queen Puabi's tomb - found mostly intact**
 * Queen Puabi was found with a cylinder seal with her name on it
 * buried with many elaborate, expensive things
 * jewels, headdresses, etc.
 * two attendants buried with her[[image:ur-map.jpg width="470" height="336" align="right" caption="Ur on a map..."]]