West Region

• The Sumerian civilization occurred on the lowest portion of the Tigris and Euphrates river
• City States

  • Manor or estate of gods
• Gods were believed to govern the WHOLE world
• City States


  Typical organization of Sumer
• Manor or estate of gods

  Temples dedicated for gods
• Temples


  Staffs offer food in exchange for blessings to the gods
• Ziggurats


  Really tall temples with high stairs
• Classes in Sumerian society

  • Priests
  • Specialists
  • Farmers
  • Slaves
• Priests


  In charge of managements of like water or canals
• Sumerians


  • Invented wheels
  • Invented calendars
  • Invented cuneiform of writing
• Produces from fields


  Delivered to estate owners and was distributed to their dependents
• Land


  Most important form of property and source of income
• Trading among cities


  Carried by agents and private establishments
• City governments


  Manages common activities and to preserve peace and order
• Each city

  Independent but some dominated other cities and some had alliances
• City examples

  • Ur
  • Uruk
  • Lagash
  • Nippur