HISTÓRIA DA SUMÉRIA | A Primeira Grande Civilização da Humanidade | Globalizando Conhecimento

Summary

The Sumerians, one of the oldest and most influential civilizations in history, are credited with numerous groundbreaking contributions such as the first writing system, legal codes, and irrigation systems. Originating in Southern Mesopotamia, their cities like Uruk and Ur flourished between 5500 BCE and 2000 BCE. They developed a highly organized society with religious and political leaders, advanced agriculture, and trade networks. Despite their eventual decline due to invasions, their cultural impact, especially on the Babylonians and later civilizations, remained profound. The Sumerian language continued to be used for sacred and scholarly purposes long after their empire fell.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Sumerian civilization is the oldest known civilization in the Mesopotamian region and possibly one of the oldest civilizations in human history.
• 😀 The Sumerians are credited with major advancements, including the invention of the first writing system, laws, irrigation systems, and wheel-based vehicles.
• 😀 The first Sumerian settlement in Southern Mesopotamia dates back to around 6500 BCE at Tel el-Der.
• 😀 The Sumerian civilization is believed to have begun around 5500 BCE when people from Western Asia speaking the Sumerian language settled in the region.
• 😀 The Sumerians developed advanced agricultural techniques that led to the creation of permanent settlements and urban centers, such as Eridu, founded around 5400 BCE.
• 😀 Sumerians practiced polytheism, worshiping gods known as the Anunnaki, with each city having its own patron deity and temple called a ziggurat.
• 😀 Uruk, founded around 5000 BCE, became the most urbanized city in the world at the time, with a population of over 50,000 inhabitants.
• 😀 The Sumerians used slaves in their cities, and by the end of the 4th millennium BCE, the region was divided into several independent city-states.
• 😀 Around 3100 BCE, the Sumerians began using cuneiform writing, one of the earliest known systems of writing, first appearing in Uruk.
• 😀 In 2334 BCE, the Akkadian Empire, founded by Sargon of Akkad, conquered Sumer, marking the end of Sumerian dominance, but their influence remained significant in later cultures.
• 😀 The Sumerians continued to have a lasting cultural impact, with their language used in sacred and scholarly contexts in Mesopotamia until the 1st century CE.

Q & A

What was the significance of the Sumerians in human history?

The Sumerians are considered the creators of the first writing system, the first laws, the first irrigation systems, and other significant contributions to human progress.

When did the first settlement in Sumer, Tell el-Der, occur?

The first settlement in Sumer, Tell el-Der, dates back to around 6500 BCE.

What is the importance of the city of Uruk in Sumerian history?

Uruk was one of the most important cities in the Sumerian civilization, becoming the most urbanized city in the world during its time. It was also where the development of urban life truly began in Sumer.

What were ziggurats in Sumerian culture?

Ziggurats were temple structures dedicated to the patron gods of each Sumerian city. These temples were central to the religious life and governance of the cities.

What is the significance of the Sumerian flood myth?

The Sumerian flood myth, known as the Genesis of Eridu, parallels the biblical flood narrative and speaks of the gods sending a flood to destroy humanity, with Ziusudra, the ruler of Shuruppak, warned to build a boat to save life.

What was the first written code of laws in human history?

The first written code of laws in human history was the Code of Ur-Nammu, established around 2100 BCE, which set out legal principles in Sumerian society.

How did the Sumerians contribute to agriculture?

The Sumerians developed advanced irrigation systems that enabled agricultural growth, which was crucial for the establishment of permanent settlements and urban life in Sumer.

What role did trade play in the Sumerian economy?

Trade was essential for the Sumerian economy, particularly with regions like the Persian Gulf, where they exchanged goods such as metals, wood, ivory, and semi-precious stones, fueling the empire's wealth.

What was the significance of the Epic of Gilgamesh?

The Epic of Gilgamesh, written around 2600 BCE, is one of the earliest known works of literature, detailing the legendary adventures of Gilgamesh, a king of Uruk, and his search for immortality.

How did the Sumerian civilization come to an end?

The Sumerian civilization gradually declined due to invasions and dominance by neighboring empires, notably the Akkadian Empire. By 2004 BCE, the Third Dynasty of Ur collapsed, and the Babylonians, influenced by the Amorites, eventually rose to prominence.