Chapter 5: Ancient Sumer
Essential Question: Why do historians classify ancient Sumer as a civilization?
In this chapter, you learn about the characteristics of Sumer society that made it a civilization.
Stable Food Supply
Ancient Sumerians invented an irrigation system and the plow to help them create a stable food supply. Social Structure, Government, and Religion Ancient Sumer had a complex social structure with different jobs and social levels. The government was led by kings. Religious beliefs influenced every part of daily life. Arts, Technology, and Writing Ancient Sumerians had a highly developed culture that included the creative arts of painting, architecture, and music. The Sumerians' most important technological invention was the wheel. They also created a written language called cuneiform that was based on pictographs. |
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