INDEPENDENT SUMERIAN CITY-

STATES

Do Now

1. Take out your vocabulary sheet

2. Take out your Lesson 3.2 Fact-Finder

The Emergence of Cities

The Emergence of Cities

In ancient times, the features of a city-state included:

1. A walled city and the land around it, such as

farmland2. It’s own government3. Clearly marked borders4. Covered several square miles5. A population of about 5,000 people

The Emergence of Cities

Over time, some city-states grew to:

1. More than 1,500 square miles

2. Populations of as many as 60,000 people

The Emergence of Cities

Each city-state was independent but people shared a

common culture which included:

1. Similar religious practices

2. They spoke the Sumerian language

3. Developed a writing system

Emergence of Cities

They also created buildings, art, and crafts that were unique to Sumerian Society.

Government and Religion

First political or government structure of each city

state was made up of:

1. A small group of leaders

2. A chief leader chosen by the group

Government and Religion

Together, they made laws, decided what work had to

be done, and dealt with disputes over land or water

rights

Government and Religion

When faced with war, different leaders could not

always agree on what to do, so a single leader was

needed

Government and Religion

This led to the first monarchy

1. A system ruled by a king or queen

2. When a King died: his son became the new king

Government and Religion

The King had complete authority or power over:

1. Religion

2. The Economy

3. Everyday Life

Government and Religion

The King appointed officials to carry out his orders,

often concerning economic surpluses and building

projects

Government and Religion

Below the King, priests were the most important

people in society

Government and Religion

Sumerians practiced polytheism, and their beliefs

included:

a. The belief in many gods

b. Each natural event had its own god

c. One god protected each city-state

Commercial Society

Economic system built on surpluses, which led to new

kinds of jobs, production of new goods, and people

began to trade their surpluses

Commercial Society

In each city, jobs held were:

a. Farming

b. Craft-workers

c. Metalworkers

d. Builders

Commercial Society

Sumerians depended on long distance trade, as there

were no metals or trees found in Sumer

Commercial Society

Exported: Agricultural surpluses, such as grains and

dates

Commercial Society

Imported:Metals, wood, and other resources

Commercial Society

Groups of traders traveled together on long journeys

called caravans

Commercial Society

Carried goods by donkeys throughout the Fertile

Crescent

Later traders used sailboats to carry goods on

waterways to distant places

Commercial Society

By 2300 BC, Sumerian trade extended:

From Egypt and the eastern Mediterranean to as far

as the Indus Valley (Pakistan)

Wrap Up

What characteristics of common culture did all Sumerians share?

What is a monarchy? What aspects of life did the king control?

What is polytheism? How was it practiced in

Sumer?

What are imports and exports? What goods did they import? What goods did they export?