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Sumerian Civilization
The first cities
Rectangular cities surrounded by high walls Ziggurats: vast temples resembling mountains
Economic life
Wheel supposedly invented before Sumer Trade brought wealth from distant lands
Government
City-states often battled each other for power Rulers led armies, employed tax collectors, maintained city walls and irrigation
Women
Myths focused on mother-goddess as creator Mothers were honored in society Status of women is thought to have decreased with increased household duties
Sumerian Religion
Polytheistic worshipped many gods
Gods controlled all forces in nature
Behaved like ordinary people Favored truth and justice Responsible for violence and suffering
Belief in an underworld
Dark, gloomy place Suggestive of the biblical description of Hell
Epic of Gilgamesh
the house where one goes in and never comes out again, the road that, if one takes it, one never comes back, the place where they live on dust, their food is mud; and they see no light, living in blackness: on the door and door-bolt, deeply settled dust
School days
Scribes experienced rigorous schooling Beatings occurred for misconduct
Advances in Learning
Boys and some girls from wealthy families studied to become scribes Subjects studied were
Religion Medicine Mathematics (basic algebra and geometry) Geography Astronomy Literature