I Sumeri - Scuola Primaria - Classe 4° || Storia

Summary

The Sumerians, one of the first civilizations in Mesopotamia, thrived around 3500 BC, flourishing due to the fertile lands between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. Skilled in farming, they transformed marshes into productive fields, leading to the rise of cities like Ur and Uruk. Known for their inventions, they developed writing, the wheel, and the plow. Sumerians were also pioneers in astronomy, mathematics, and architecture. Their polytheistic beliefs revolved around powerful natural deities. Despite internal conflicts, their legacy endured until the rise of the Akkadians and later the Babylonians, marking the end of Sumerian dominance.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Sumerians were one of the first civilizations in history and the oldest of the Mesopotamian civilizations, settling in the lower part of Mesopotamia around 3500 BC.
• 🌾 The Sumerians were skilled farmers who transformed marshes into cultivable fields, leading to increased food production and the construction of cities.
• 🏙️ They established independent city-states such as Ur and Uruk, each with its own king and a Ziggurat at its center, which served both as a temple and a warehouse.
• 🏛️ Ziggurats were tall, pyramid-like structures made of clay bricks, built to be visible from afar and used for religious ceremonies and food storage.
• 🌾 The Sumerian economy was based on agriculture, with key crops including wheat, barley, and sesame, and livestock such as sheep and goats for wool, milk, and meat.
• 💡 The Sumerians were inventors, developing the first form of writing, initially using clay tokens and later moving to pictograms, ideograms, and wedge-shaped cuneiform writing.
• 🚜 They invented the wheel, the plow, and boats, all of which revolutionized transportation, farming, and trade in Sumerian society.
• 📏 The Sumerians developed important scientific fields like arithmetic, geometry, engineering, and astronomy, which helped them build advanced infrastructure like dams, canals, and palaces.
• 🔭 They created the first calendar, dividing the year into 12 months with 365 days, based on their study of the stars and planets.
• 🎶 Sumerians valued music and dance, especially during religious ceremonies, and used instruments such as drums and harps.
• 🙏 The Sumerians were polytheistic, worshiping many gods tied to natural elements like earth, water, sky, and wind, with priests performing rituals to ensure divine protection.

Q & A

What geographic region did the Sumerians settle in?

The Sumerians settled in the lower part of Mesopotamia, along the banks of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, around 3500 BC.

Where did historians believe the Sumerians originally came from?

Historians believe that the Sumerians originally came from the Zagros Mountains before migrating to southern Mesopotamia.

What does the name 'Sumer' mean?

The name 'Sumer' means 'cultivated land,' reflecting the region's transformation into productive agricultural fields by the Sumerians.

What were the key features of Sumerian cities?

Sumerian cities were small, independent city-states, each surrounded by defensive walls, with a Ziggurat in the center. The Ziggurat was a large pyramid-shaped structure that housed a temple at the top and warehouses at the base.

What was the economic basis of the Sumerian civilization?

The Sumerians were skilled farmers who cultivated crops like wheat, barley, and lentils, and raised sheep and goats for wool, milk, and meat. They also traded goods through barter and produced metals and precious stones.

How did the Sumerians contribute to the development of writing?

The Sumerians developed writing primarily to record the quantity of goods stored in warehouses for tax purposes. They initially used clay tokens and later transitioned to engraving signs on clay tablets, eventually evolving to cuneiform writing with wedge-shaped marks.

What was the significance of the Sumerian inventions like the wheel and the plow?

The Sumerians invented the wheel and the plow, which made agricultural and transportation tasks much easier. The wheel facilitated faster travel and trade, while the plow helped in the efficient cultivation of land.

What role did astronomy play in Sumerian society?

The Sumerians were skilled astronomers who studied stars and planets. They developed the first calendar, which divided the year into 12 months of 365 days.

How did Sumerian religion influence their daily life?

The Sumerians were polytheists, believing in many gods who controlled natural elements like earth, water, sky, and wind. The priests were considered the intermediaries between the gods and the people, performing rituals to ensure the protection of the city.

What led to the decline of the Sumerian civilization?

The Sumerians' city-states weakened due to constant conflicts over water resources, and eventually, the Akkadians and later the Babylonians took control, marking the end of Sumerian dominance.