Sumerian Civilization Overview

What did the Sumerians believe caused bad things to happen to them?

The Sumerian people were monotheistic, meaning they believed in only one god.

What were the three social classes in Sumerian society?

The Sumerians invented the ______ and the ______ which are still used today.

Match the following Sumerian social classes to their descriptions:

What was the main reason for the rise of the king in Sumerian society?

Sumerian women could not own land or become merchants or artisans.

What was the primary purpose of the plow invented by the Sumerians?

The Sumerians believed that the world was created by four main gods: the god of the sky, ______, fresh water, and ______.

Which of the following inventions is NOT attributed to the Sumerians?

Sumerian Civilization

Sumerians practiced polytheism, believing in many gods, not just one.
The four main gods were sky, foothills/mountains, fresh water, and wind
Gods were worshipped to prevent bad things from happening.
Priests served gods and acted as intermediaries for prayers, like requesting more water.

Sumerian Leadership

As Sumerians grew wealthy, they faced attacks from rival cities
A strong warrior led Sumer and was eventually named King.
This powerful leader ruled Sumer consistently.

Social classes were groups of people who had similar income and respect.
Three social classes existed: upper, lower, and in-between.
Upper class included the king, priests, landowners, government officials, and merchants.
In-between class included free people (farmers, artisans).
Lower class consisted of slaves.
Slavery was a common practice where people could be sold, often those captured in war.
Children might become slaves to pay off debts or earn money for their families.
Women had similar rights to men in Sumer. They could be priestesses, own land, or become merchants/artisans.
Slaves, however, earned little pay.

Sumerian Technology

Sumerians invented the wheel and plow.
The plow helped farmers dig up land.
The plow was initially simple, using digging sticks attached to handles and pulled by people or animals.
The wheel enabled the building of wagons for transporting crops and supplies.
A specialized wheel, the potter's wheel, was developed for making pottery.
These inventions are still used today.

Explore the rich history of the Sumerian civilization, including their polytheistic beliefs, leadership structures, and complex social classes. Learn how the interplay of wealth, religion, and warfare shaped their society and governance.