UNIT 2

ANCIENT SUMER
In this unit you will:
• Learn about early civilization
• Explore the Fertile Crescent and Ancient Sumer
• Understand how the Sumerians lived
• Explore their inventions and discoveries
 4

Settling Down
 5

As we know, during the Bronze Age people started settling in one

place for a longer time.
They learned how to farm and grow crops.

With their improved tools, they could clear bigger areas of land and
plant more seeds. This meant they could produce more food, and
their communities grew bigger and stronger.
 6

The First Cities

As communities grew, they started turning into cities and

towns.

People started to specialize in different jobs.

Some became skilled artists, creating beautiful objects from

bronze and other materials. Others focused on farming,
trading, or leading the community.

This was the beginning of civilization.

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What is a Civilization?

Civilization is a word we use to describe a group of

people who live together in an organized way.

They have their own rules and ways of doing things.

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What is a Civilization?

A civilization usually has cities or towns

where people live, and they have special
buildings like schools, markets, and
government buildings.

People in a civilization may have

different jobs and skills, like farmers,
builders, or leaders, and they work
together to make their community
thrive.
 9

Writing Systems

People settling in different parts of the world began creating their

own writing systems.

They started using symbols to write down their ideas and

communicate with others.

They also used these writing systems to keep records, do trade, and
share knowledge.
 10

These early writing systems were the first steps towards the written
languages we use today.

They allowed people to record their stories, communicate important

information, and pass on knowledge from one generation to another.

We have learnt many things about early civilizations from these early
writings.
 11

What Things Led to Civilization?

We know some of the reasons that people started to settle in one place.

However, there are many important reasons for why whole civilizations
with big cities and towns began in certain places.

Those places also had an effect on what those civilizations were like.
 12

Fertile Land

One of the most important factors for early

civilizations was the discovery of fertile land.

People realized that some places were

better for growing plants than others. They
learned to sow seeds, tend to the crops, and
harvest the food they needed.
 13

Water
Water played a very important role in the development of civilizations.

People settled near rivers, as they provided a source of water for fishing,
drinking, cooking, and irrigating their crops. Water also made it easier for
people to travel, trade goods, and communicate with each other.
 14

Geography
The climate and geography of an area influenced
the type of civilization that developed there.

For example, in ancient Egypt, the Nile River

flooded annually, leaving behind rich silt that
made the land perfect for farming.

In contrast, in Mesopotamia, the unpredictable

flooding of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers required
people to build intricate irrigation systems to
control the water.

Mountains, deserts, and other natural features

also shaped how civilizations grew and interacted
with their surroundings.
 15

Animal Domestication
People had learned to tame wild animals like dogs, goats, and cows by
the Bronze Age.

Domesticated animals provided food, clothing, transportation, and even

companionship.

They helped with farming by pulling plows and carrying heavy loads,
making it easier for people to grow more food and support larger
communities.
 16

Trade
As civilizations grew, people started to trade goods with one another.
They exchanged things like food, tools, and crafts.

Trade allowed them to get items they couldn't produce themselves and
helped spread new ideas and technologies.

As people from different regions met, they learned from each other, and
shared their beliefs, customs, and knowledge.
 17

Society
As communities grew larger, people had to
come up with ways to live together
peacefully.

They developed systems of government,

such as kingships or city-states, to establish
rules and keep order.

They also created social classes and roles,

like farmers, craftsmen, priests, and rulers.
This division allowed people to specialize in
different skills and contribute to the overall
well-being of the society.
 18

Big Picture

These factors worked together to

influence the beginning of civilization.

Over time, civilizations became more

complex, with improvements in
technology, architecture, writing
systems, and the arts.

The world transformed from small

nomadic groups to magnificent cities
and empires.
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Location
 20

Look at this world map. Can you see Iraq? People moved to
this area from around 5000 BC.
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The Fertile Crescent

The Fertile Crescent, shaped like a crescent moon, is located here and
is where the Tigris and Euphrates rivers flow.
 22

Cradle of Civilization
This remarkable place is known as the
"Cradle of Civilization."

This is because it was here, around 5,000

years ago, that the world's first true cities
and states emerged.

People settled along the river banks and

developed advanced systems of
government, writing, and trade. They
built magnificent cities with grand
palaces, temples, and bustling
marketplaces.
 23

Who were the ancient Sumerians?

• People began living in the area

we call Sumer from around 5000
BC.
• Today, Sumer no longer exists:
the land is part of Iraq.
• The Sumerians built large cities
and invented a written script.
• They had a big effect on the
world as it is today.
 24

Ancient Sumer and Mesopotamia

Look at this close-up map of the Fertile Crescent.
Can you see the part called Sumer? Can you read some of the city
names?

• What two rivers is the

land between?

Uruk
 25

Ancient Sumer and Mesopotamia

The Greeks later called this entire area ‘Mesopotamia’ meaning ‘The
land between two rivers’.
Ancient Sumer was in the southern part of Mesopotamia.

Why do you think the

Sumerian people chose
to build their cities and
homes here?
Uruk
 26

Why Do Civilisations Settle

beside Rivers?
Water

Food

Fishing

Fertile soil
 27

Farming and Food

Because the soil was so rich in this area, it was the perfect place for growing crops.

The people here grew barley, wheat,

chickpeas, lentils, dates, onions, garlic,
lettuce and leeks.

Sheep, cows, goats and pigs were kept as a

supply of food

Fish, birds and gazelle were hunted

for food.
 28

Where in the World?

Questions
1. Where in the world was
ancient Sumer?
2. Which rivers did it lie
between?
3. What did the Greeks later call
the area? Why?
 29

Timeline
 30

Ancient Sumer Timeline

Create a timeline in your copies as we go over the important
events.
 31

5000 BC

People move into the

land we call Sumer in
Mesopotamia. They
form the first towns and
cities, plant crops and
begin farming the land.
 32

4000 BC

The Sumer people build

temples to practice their
beliefs in. These temples
became elaborate, or
fancy, buildings that we
call 'ziggurats', which
can still be seen today in
lots of different places in
Iraq and Iran.
 33

4000 BC

Pottery is made simpler.

From very decorative
pots, the Sumerians
started to make plain,
unpainted pottery.
This was easier to make
in big numbers by
special pottery
craftsmen.
 34

3500 BC

The wheel is invented

and is used on vehicles
to cart things around.
 35

3300 BC
The Sumerians start to
inscribe on clay tablets
using pictures for words.
They put these together
to form sentences and
one of the first forms of
writing is invented. Over
time, the pictures
become symbols made
of different
combinations of marks
and indentations.
 36

3000 BC

The Ancient Sumerians

begin to use
mathematics.
 37

2700 BC
Gilgamesh becomes the
5th king of Uruk.

According to the
Sumerian King list,
Gilgamesh ruled for 126
years.

He was believed in
Sumerian mythology to
be almost superhuman,
with immense strength.

A mythology is a collection of myths or stories about how the world was created and why certain
things happen.
 38

A myth is a really old story that people used to tell a long time ago to explain things they
2700 BC
didn't understand. For example, they might tell a story about how the sun and moon were
created, or why thunder and lightning happen. Often these stories also
Gilgamesh had athe
becomes moral lesson –
showing right and wrong. 5th king of Uruk.

These stories often had gods, goddesses, magical characters and heroes
According to thein them, and they
were passed down from generation to generation. They helpedSumerianancient people understand
King list,
their culture, beliefs, and values and understand the world they lived
Gilgamesh in. for 126
ruled
years.
Myths were believed by ancient people to be the truth.
He was believed in
Now, even though these stories aren't true, they are still Sumerian
importantmythology
because they
to tell us a lot
about what people in the past believed and how they made sense of
be almost their world. They also tell
superhuman,
us about the values people thought were important in ancient times. strength.
with immense
 39

2330 BC
The Sumerian people
are conquered by the
Akkadians, who
establish the Akkadian
empire.

Although they have their

own language, they
write using the same
system of symbols as the
Sumerians.
 40

Ancient Sumerian Timeline

Activities

Label and illustrate the events and people in your timeline.

 41

Life in the
City States
 42

What Were City States?

• The land between the Tigris and the Euphrates rivers often flooded and left
rich, fertile land for planting.
• The Sumerian people took advantage of this and established their cities on
these areas.
• Large dry, desert type areas between the fertile ground separated cities
from one another and made communication and transportation between
cities very difficult.
• This led to the development of city states, with each city being the centre
of its own self-governed unit of civilisation.
• City states frequently warred with each other to gain glory, reputation and
more land, so large walls were built all around the outskirts of the city
states, and guards were employed to protect the people inside from attack.
 43

Society
Society was made up of three main sections:
Nobles this included royals and religious officials.

these people worked for the Nobles, or were farmers, crafts

Commoners
people or merchants.

Slaves they worked for palace officials or did building work.

 44

Ziggurats
Let’s take
a closer
look!

• Each city state was centred around a temple.

• By 2100 BC, these temples had become huge monuments, known as
ziggurats.
• Ziggurats had three platforms, steep steps up the front and a temple at the
top.
 45

What was it like to live in a city state?

• Rich Sumerians lived in huge palaces while the
poor lived in cramped mud-brick houses which
were tightly packed in along the narrow streets.
• Houses in the cities were built very close together
and most had no windows. They usually had an
enclosed downstairs area and an upstairs room
without a roof, which provided a cooler place to
sleep and prepare food.
• Richer people had more rooms in their houses, sometimes including
servant quarters or a chapel. Some of these houses were also built in
a U-shape which created a garden area in the middle.
• Fishermen and farmers who lived outside the cities often built
houses out of reeds, which were tightly bound together then
covered in clay.
 46

Interesting Facts
Activity 1 Activity 2
Can you write down the three Can you write down the three
most interesting facts you have most interesting facts you
learned so far about city states? have learned about what it
was like to live in a city state?
 47

What Were Houses Made Of?

• As stone was scarce, buildings were mostly
made out of sun-baked mud bricks.
• Over time, the Sumerians developed
wooden moulds to ensure these bricks
were of a uniform shape and size.
• Eventually, they developed the process of
firing the bricks in a kiln to make them
harder and stronger.
• They used a substance called bitumen - a
semi-solid, black, tar-like material - to
waterproof the bricks and to fill in any
gaps in the buildings.
 48

The Building Process

1. Gather up mounds of clay from the earth.

2. Form the clay into bricks using a brick mould so they are the same shape and size.

3. Place your bricks inside a kiln to dry them out and make them hard and strong.

4. Coat the bricks in bitumen to waterproof them.

5. Layer the bricks on top of each other to create four high, flat walls, forming a
square shape.

6. Only add tiny upstairs windows as you want to keep the house downstairs cool.

7. Add a second floor, leaving the top open to provide an open-air terrace.

8. Fill in any gaps in the bricks with more bitumen.

9. Paint your exterior walls white.

10. Move in and furnish your property.

 49

Build a Mud-Brick House

Can you remember the steps needed
to build a mud-brick house?
Write out the instructions in the correct
order.
Make illustrations for each step.
 50

Designing a City State

 51

Writing
 52

Writing
• Writing was possibly the most
important achievement of the
ancient Sumerians.

• They were the first civilisation to

create a writing script that used
symbols to represent spoken
syllables.

• Their early writing, which began

around 3300 BC, first used
pictures called hieroglyphs,
which were similar to those used
in ancient Egypt.
 53

Cuneiform Alphabet
Writing changed over the years from hieroglyphs to cuneiform alphabet.
 54

Cuneiform
• This unique looking script was
called ‘cuneiform’ which means
‘wedge-shaped’.
• The writing was arranged in rows
from left to right.
• A blunt reed called a stylus was
used to make marks on clay tablets,
which were later fired to make
them hard and preserve them.
• All sorts of tablets have been found,
containing records of accounts,
poems, stories, prayers and letters.
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Sumerian Writing System

Questions
Can you answer these quiz questions based on the Ancient
Sumerian writing system?
1. The Sumerian writing system first started with
pictures. What were these pictures called?
2. Their early writing began around what date?
3. What were the tablets they wrote on made of?
4. What was the script they used called?
5. What was the tool called that people wrote with?
6. Name two types of documents the Sumerians
might have written down.
 56

Sumerian Writing System

Questions
Can you answer these quiz questions based on the Ancient
Sumerian writing system?
1. The Sumerian writing system first started with Hieroglyphs
pictures. What were these pictures called?
2. Their early writing began around what date? 3300 BC

3. What were the tablets they wrote on made of? Clay

4. What was the script they used called? Cuneiform

5. What was the tool called that people wrote with? Stylus

6. Name two types of documents the Sumerians Accounts, poems,

might have written down. stories, prayers or
letters
 57

Cuneiform Alphabet
• Like modern languages, there were also different
versions of cuneiform.
• Try writing your name using this cuneiform version.
 58

Activity
Use one page in your copy to draw a writing tablet and
write a message, description or story on the tablet.
 59

Inventions
 60

Imagine…
• Imagine a time…. without
time!
• Imagine a world without the
wheel…
• Imagine a world with no
books, no newspapers and
nothing to read online,
because there was no
writing!
• The clock which tells you
when it’s time to go to
school, the car that takes you
places and the books we read
all developed over time from
ideas that started with the
Sumerians.
 61

The Wheel
The earliest wheel discovered was
found in Mesopotamia and dates
to around 3500 BC. Surprisingly,
the first use of the wheel wasn’t
linked to transport, but industry. It
was used to improve the process
of making clay pots by creating a
potter’s wheel. Wheels were also We can see wheels on chariots
used in mills. depicted on the Standard of Ur, a
mosaic found in a royal grave in the
city of Ur that dates to around 2500
BC.
It is thought that chariots might have
been first used around 3200 BC.
 62

Mathematics
• The ancient Sumerians created a system of counting based
on multiples of 6 and 10.
• They needed maths for building projects and accounting.
They used addition, subtraction, multiplication and
division as well as fractions and equations.
• They knew how to calculate the area and circumference of
different shapes.
• They used multiplication tables.
• It was the Sumerians that decided there
were 360 degrees in a circle, a unit of
measurement that we still use today.
 63

Astronomy
• The ancient Sumerians observed the night sky
and mapped out the stars into constellations.
• They tracked the movements of the Sun, the
Moon and the five planets that are visible
without a telescope (Mercury, Venus, Mars,
Jupiter and Saturn).
• By studying the phases of the moon, they created
the first calendar with 12 lunar months.
 64

Time
The day starts when the sun rises and
ends when the sun sets. But how do
we measure the passage of time?
The Sumerians had observed the
moon and came up with a calendar of
12 lunar months. They also tracked
the sun and divided the day into
sections of 60-second minutes, 60-
minute hours and 24-hour cycles. This
included 12 hours of day and 12
hours of night.
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Farming Tools and Techniques

At a time when many humans
were hunting and gathering, the
Sumerians were settling in one
area and making the land work for
them. To control the water from
the rivers, the Sumerians had to
build banks to stop the flood
waters. They dug irrigation canals The Sumerians invented a seeder
and ditches to channel the water plough that was pulled by oxen
to where they wanted it, making it and dropped seeds down a funnel
possible to cultivate crops. and into the furrow it created.
This was far more efficient than
planting by hand. The rake, the
sickle and the shovel were also
invented in ancient Sumer.
 66

Tools and Weapons

• The Sumerians invented many tools to help them build and weapons
to help them fight.
• These included: saws, chisels, hammers, nails, axes, knives, lance
points, arrowheads and daggers.
• From 2900 BC, they added tin to copper to make bronze. This was a
stronger metal for making tools.
• Not all weapons were for war: there were daggers found in the tombs
in Ur that were believed to be ceremonial, purely decorative. This one
has an elaborately decorated scabbard:
 67

The Loom
Looms were being used to weave fabric in
ancient Sumer as early as 3000 BC. Wool
was the most common fabric used to make
clothing: everything from cloaks to shoes.
Fragments of finely woven linen were
found in royal tombs that showed the
weavers were highly skilled. Linen would
be reserved for the rich as it was more
expensive than wool.
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The Lyre and the Harp

Music was very important.
The ancient Sumerians
played harps, lyres, flutes,
reed pipes and drums. The
oldest existing string
instruments, three lyres
and one harp, were found
in the tombs at Ur. They are
over 4500 years old.
 69

Urbanisation
The farming techniques invented by the
Sumerians needed many people to keep the
food production going. At certain times of the
year, all men had to work on digging the canals
to keep the irrigation system going unless they
were rich enough to pay money to avoid it.
Large cities, like Uruk, had roads, houses, a
temple, sewers to get rid of waste, a legal
system and social hierarchy. They were led by a
priest or king. There was enough food to
support the people in other occupations, so
some men were priests, potters, weavers,
carpenters or blacksmiths.
 70

Let’s Discuss!
Which of these inventions and ideas do we use
today, thousands of years later?

How are they similar to today? How are they

different?
 71

Questions
In your copies write:
1. Which invention do you think was most
important?
2. Which invention has had the most impact on
life today? Why?
 72

Sumerian Inventions

In your copies make a poster introducing your new product or idea.

 73

Artefacts and Culture

 74

Artwork
Many examples of artwork dating back to the
ancient Sumerian times have been found. Clay
was the material most often used as it was
widely available. The Sumerian people used clay
to make functional items such as vases, bowls
and plates but sculptures were also created.
The sculptures were painted.
Very few paintings have survived from the
ancient Sumerian period. This could be because
they used plant-based paints which have not
lasted.
The Sumerian people also created mosaics
using shells, jewels and precious stones. These
are very intricate, delicate pieces.
 75

Sumerian Sculpture
Questions
This artefact is a
Sumerian sculpture:

1. What is the sculpture

made of?
2. Who do you think this
figure could be?
3. Where do you think
this sculpture may
have been found?
 76

Sumerian Sculpture
Facts
• This clay sculpture
depicts a male
worshipper.
• The figure was placed
in the Square Temple.
• The Sumerian people
believed that if they
left a figure like this at
the temple it would
pray continuously on
their behalf.
 77

The Royal Game of Ur

Games were popular in ancient Sumerian times and many have been
found buried with the people who owned them. This is because the
Sumerians believed they would be able to continue to play them in the
afterlife. The Royal Game of Ur was found in the 1920s by an
archaeologist called Sir Leonard Woolley.

1. What do you think the different parts of the game are made of?
2. How do you think the game might have been played?
 78

The Royal Game of Ur

• This ‘Game of Twenty Squares’ dates back to around 2500 BC.
• The board has 20 squares made of shells: five squares in each of four
designs (flower rosettes, eyes, circled dots or five dots).
• It was a two-player game, the aim of which was to get your pieces
across the board first.
• Dice were used.
• The boards were hollow and the pieces and dice were stored inside.
 79

Music
Many sources of evidence suggest that the Sumerians were
fond of music and were skilled musicians. They played a
variety of instruments including reed pipes, drums, lyres,
flutes and harps.
 80

Music and Art

Questions
Look at this close up image from
the Royal Standard of Ur.

1. What instrument is the man

playing?
2. Why do you think he was
playing the instrument?

The artefact tells us that music

was obviously an important part
of ancient Sumerian Culture.
 81

Music and Art

• This lyre box was decorated with gold and lapis lazuli and
featured a carved bull’s head.
• It was probably played around 2700 BC.
 82

The Royal Standard of Ur

This artefact was found in one of the largest graves in the
Royal City of Ur by archaeologist Sir Leonard Woolley.

1. What do you think it is made of?

2. What do you think it could be?
3. What do you think the pictures on the artefact show?
 83

The Royal Standard of Ur

• The object is a slim wooden box, shaped like a wedge with elaborate
mosaics on each side.
• The mosaics are made from shell, red limestone and lapis lazuli (a blue
gemstone) and are very intricate in design.
• When the object was first discovered, it was in a fragile condition. The
wooden box surrounding the mosaic had decayed, the weight of the
soil had crushed the pieces of mosaic and the bitumen, which was
acting as glue to hold it all together, was also disintegrating.
• Woolley’s excavation team had to work very carefully to lift out the
tiny pieces one by one and reconstruct it as accurately as possible.
 84

The Royal Standard of Ur

• Sir Leonard Woolley believed that the object may have
been carried on the top of a pole, like a standard (hence
its name).
• He thought this because it was found above the shoulder
of a man who may have been holding it.
• However, some other people disagree and have their own
ideas about what it was used for.
 85

War and Peace

The two sides of the Royal Standard of Ur have been
named War and Peace. This is the war side.
What can you see?
 86

War and Peace

What can you see on the Peace side?
 87

Examining the Evidence

You are about to become
historians!
You have been given the task of
examining the Royal Standard of Ur
in more detail.
1. Can you explain what you can
see in the pictures on the War
and Peace sides of the artefact?
2. Can you use this evidence to
make conclusions about the life
and culture of the Ancient
Sumerian people?
3. Work with a partner to discuss
your ideas.
 88

Sketching
Choose one area of the
Royal Standard of Ur to do
a close-up sketch of to
show what is happening.
Write a caption about what
your sketch is showing.
 89

Agriculture
 90

Ground Works
Sumer’s position between the two rivers of the Tigris and the
Euphrates was greatly beneficial.
The Tigris (and to a lesser extent, the Euphrates) would often
flood, drenching the earth with essential moisture. The
Sumerians developed an irrigation and draining system to use
and control the water to ensure that the ground was kept in the
best condition for growing crops.
The Sumerian farmers dug canals and channels to manage the
water, directing it where needed, and maintenance of this
irrigation system was a large-scale operation, requiring the
employment of many men all year round. In fact, unless they
were very rich, all men were required to work on the canals and
channels at some point during the year.
The Sumerian people were some of the first people in the world
to actively control the land and make it work for them. They were
an advanced civilisation at the time with forward-thinking ideas
and techniques which improved their everyday lives.
 91

Farming Tools
The Sumerians invented and used many different
farming tools to help them prepare and manage
the ground and crops.
 92

Rake Sickle

A rake was used to remove The sickle has a short handle and
debris and smooth out the soil a long, curved blade to cut down
before planting. crops.
 93

Shovel Mattock

The shovel was used for digging The mattock was used for
up and moving soil. pounding the ground to make
the soil very fine.
 94

Pickaxe Seeder Plough

The seeder plough was pulled

The pickaxe was used for along the ground by oxen. It
breaking up rocks and clay. created a furrow in the ground,
which seeds were dropped into.
 95

1. The farmers would flood their fields and drain off the water.
 96

2. They would send out oxen to trample the ground to kill off any weeds.
 97

3. After that, they would drag their pickaxes across the ground to break up
the earth.
 98

4. When the ground had dried out, they then ploughed (turned over) the
earth.
 99

5. Following this, they harrowed (broke up) the earth.

 100

6. They then raked it over to smooth it out.

 101

7. They repeated the last three steps twice more, then they pounded the
ground with a mattock.
 102

8. Finally, the farmer planted the seeds.

 103

The Farming Process

Match up the farming pictures to their descriptions.
After flooding the fields and draining off the water, can you remember what order they go in to
accurately describe the farming sequence?
 104

1 2

3 4

7
 105

Harvesting the Crops

The Sumerians grew a wide range of crops including
barley, wheat, chickpeas, dates, onions, garlic, lettuce,
turnips, millet, lentils and mustard. All of the crops were
harvested during the springtime.
The Sumerians had a strict system for harvesting the
crops with all farmers working in different roles.
 106

1. Firstly, the reaper would cut down the crops.

 107

2. Next, the binder bundled and tied the crops together.

 108

3. Then, the sheaf handler would separate the heads of the plants from the
stalks.
 109

4. Finally, the sheaf handler would winnow out the grain.

 110

Animals
The Sumerians were among the first people to
domesticate animals. They reared and used
animals for different purposes.
Discuss with your partner:
• What do you think oxen were used for?
• Why do you think they kept donkeys?
• Which animals do you think were reared to
provide food?
• What else could they get from these animals?
• What do you think the Sumerians would do
with fish, birds and gazelles?
 111

Animals
• Early writing appears to show sheep, goats and cows were kept as a
supply of food.
• Oxen were used to work in fields and donkeys were used as transport.
• Fish, birds and gazelles were hunted for food.
• Animals were also used for their wool or hair to make clothes and
rugs.
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The Farming Handbook

In 1949, a 7.6cm x 11cm clay tablet dating back to
around 1600 BC was discovered in what would have
been the ancient Sumerian city of Nippur. This tablet
contained rules and guidance for farmers, like a sort of
farming handbook. It is known as The Farmer’s Almanac.
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The City of Ur
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Review