Sumerians......

So far I have discussed the evolution of clay tokens of ancient Mesopotamia.  Now its time to discover Sumerians in little more details as my main focus is going to be the Sumerian clay tablets.

Around 4000 BCE people called Sumerians moved into Mesopotamia. By 3800 BCE the Sumerians had supplanted the Ubaidians and Semites in southern Mesopotamia. The land they chose to live was flat and river made. Climate is extremely hot and dry. The soil is wind swept and unproductive. There was no minerals rocks or trees except huge reeds in the mashes. But Sumerians who was unusually creative and talented turned this place in to a garden of Eden.

They channeled  the silt overflow of the river to grow crops and improved the channel system to flow water equally to every corner it needed and to bring crops to the city centre. This needed more power than individual land owner or community, eventually gave rise to governmental institutions. The surplus agricultural products due to the fertility of the irrigated soil was trade to get minerals which was vital for the armies. They improved their roads, over which their donkeys trod, some of their donkeys pulling wheeled carts. They used reeds to weave baskets and mats and with the fine clay from the sides of the river used to make clay pottery and vases. With all the good conditions of living the Sumerians grew in number which is the key element in creating what we call civilization -- a word derived from an ancient word for city.

At the center of each city-state was a temple surrounded by courts and public buildings. Radiating from the all-important city center were the two-story houses of the priests and merchants, or the upper class; the one-story homes of government officials, shopkeepers, and craftspeople; and the lower class homes of farmers, unskilled workers, and fishermen. The city-state also included the fertile farming land outside the city wall.Since there was no building stone and very little timber in Sumer, the people constructed their homes, public buildings, and city walls out of sun-dried mud brick.

 Sumerian city known as Lagash

Image courtesy: http://www.strayreality.com/Lanis_Strayreality/Pics3/sumeri14.jpg

 

The Sumerians are believed to be short with high straight noses, black hair and big black eyes. Many wore beards, but some were clean-shaven or with a clean-shaven upper lip, but a beard around the chin. They wore fleece and finally woven wool. The women draped the garment from the left shoulder, while the men bound it at their waists and left the upper half of their body bare. Styles changed gradually over time, and later on, the male clothing moved up toward the neck, at least among the upper class. Slaves, from beginning to end, both male and female, went about naked from the waist up, however.On their heads, the Sumerians wore a cap; on their feet, they wore sandals; wealthy women sometimes wore shoes of soft leather, lacking heels, that they laced up. Rich women also wore bracelets, necklaces, anklets, finger rings and ear rings.

 

 

 Sumerian people

Image courtesy: http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/prehistory/middle_east/images/sumerstatues.jpg

  

In the book written by Samuel Noah Kramer “The Sumerians: their history, culture, and character” it says the first settlement was established in Sumer in 4500 BCE and lasted up to 1750 BCE until they were ceased, which mean nearly three thousand years as the span of Sumer civilisation. 

Among all these inventions there is one extraordinary invention of Sumerians which changed their social lives. The invention of a writing system. The greatest gift Sumerians gave to the world. As Sumerian society became more advanced, the need to keep accurate records became more and more crucial and the use of clay tablets became more popular.

Readings...

1. Kramer, Samuel Noah; The Sumerians: Their History, Culture and Character