King Kebab

Who were the Sumerians? The Sumerians were an ancient people of Mesopotamia, who settled in the southern part of present-day Iraq, between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, around 4000 BC. ⸻ Main characteristics: • City-states: They lived in independent cities such as Ur, Uruk, Lagash and Eridu, each with its own ruler and main temple. • Ziggurats: Impressive temples in the shape of a stepped pyramid, dedicated to the gods. • Polytheistic religion: They believed in many gods linked to natural forces and daily life. • Cuneiform writing: The Sumerians invented one of the first forms of writing, engraved on clay tablets with a wedge-shaped stylus. • Inventions: In addition to writing, they introduced: • The wheel, • The lunar calendar, • The sexagesimal number system (base 60), • Advanced agricultural techniques (irrigation). ⸻ Society and economy: • Hierarchical: Kings, priests, officials, artisans, farmers and slaves. • Agricultural economy: Based on cultivation (barley, wheat) and livestock, with important commercial activities. ⸻ Decline: Around 2000 BC, the Sumerians were gradually conquered by other peoples, such as the Akkadians and then the Babylonians, but many of their innovations were inherited. ⸻ Historical importance: The Sumerians are considered the first urban civilization in history, fundamental to the development of Mesopotamian culture and Western civilization.

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