Sumerian Civilization

Definition

The Sumerian civilization was the first known urban culture in the historical region of southern Mesopotamia, modern-day southern Iraq. They are credited with many 'firsts' such as writing, law, agriculture, and city construction.

Analogy

Think of the Sumerian civilization like a pioneer in uncharted territory. Just like how pioneers were often the first to explore new lands and establish settlements, the Sumerians were among the first to develop complex systems such as writing and law that we still use today.

Related terms

Cuneiform: This is a system of writing first developed by the ancient Sumerians. It's like their version of our alphabet today.

Ziggurat: A rectangular stepped tower or pyramid-like structure built by ancient Assyrians and Sumerians for religious purposes. It's similar to how modern churches or temples are built as places for worship.

City-State: An independent city that has its own government separate from the surrounding country. Imagine if New York City had its own rules and regulations separate from those of the United States - that would be similar to a city-state.