Warm-Up: Imagine Life Without...

Instructions: Read the prompt below. First, think about your answer individually for 1 minute. Then, discuss your thoughts with a partner for 2 minutes.

Prompt:

Imagine you wake up tomorrow, and suddenly there is NO written language, NO wheels, and NO organized system of laws.

1. How would your daily life change?

2. What challenges would society face?

Reading: Sumerian Innovations - Shaping Our World

Ancient Sumer, located in Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq) between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers, was one of the world's first great civilizations. Flourishing from around 4500 BCE to 1900 BCE, the Sumerians were incredibly inventive people. Their contributions laid much of the groundwork for human civilization, influencing everything from how we communicate to how we organize our societies.

Cuneiform: The Dawn of Writing

Perhaps the most significant Sumerian invention was cuneiform, one of the earliest systems of writing. Developed around 3400 BCE, it involved making wedge-shaped marks on wet clay tablets with a stylus. Initially, cuneiform was used to keep records of trade, taxes, and agricultural production. Over time, it evolved to record laws, religious texts, epic poems (like the Epic of Gilgamesh), and historical accounts.

Why it matters: Cuneiform revolutionized communication. It allowed for complex ideas and information to be stored and transmitted across generations, making organized governance and education possible. Without written language, much of human history and knowledge would have been lost.

The Wheel: A Revolutionary Invention

The Sumerians are credited with inventing the wheel around 3500 BCE. While early wheels were likely used for pottery to spin clay, they were soon adapted for transportation, leading to the creation of wheeled carts and chariots. This seemingly simple invention had a profound impact.

Why it matters: The wheel drastically improved transportation of goods and people, making trade more efficient and allowing for the movement of larger armies. It is a fundamental component of almost all modern machinery, from cars to turbines.

Advanced Irrigation Systems: Taming the Rivers

Living in an arid region, the Sumerians developed sophisticated irrigation systems to manage the unpredictable floods of the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. They built networks of canals, dams, and dikes to divert river water to their fields and protect their settlements from flooding. This innovation transformed dry, unproductive land into fertile agricultural zones.

Why it matters: Effective irrigation led to a surplus of food, which could feed larger populations. This surplus allowed some people to specialize in crafts, governance, or religion, leading to the development of cities and a more complex division of labor. Modern agriculture still relies heavily on irrigation techniques.

Early Law Codes: Establishing Order

To manage their growing cities and complex societies, the Sumerians recognized the need for organized rules and justice. While later Babylonian codes like Hammurabi's Code are more famous, the Sumerians established some of the earliest known written law codes, such as the Code of Ur-Nammu (around 2100 BCE). These laws helped maintain order, resolve disputes, and ensure a degree of fairness within society.

Why it matters: The concept of codified law provided a stable framework for society, protecting citizens and defining responsibilities. This idea of a government based on written laws is a cornerstone of legal systems worldwide today.

Mathematics and Astronomy: Understanding the Cosmos

The Sumerians also made significant advancements in mathematics and astronomy. They developed a sexagesimal (base-60) number system, which influenced our modern measurements of time (60 seconds in a minute, 60 minutes in an hour) and circles (360 degrees).

Why it matters: Their mathematical understanding was crucial for monumental architecture like ziggurats, for land surveying, and for astronomical observations. Their study of celestial bodies helped them develop calendars, vital for agriculture and religious festivals. These early insights into numbers and the cosmos paved the way for future scientific and mathematical progress.

Worksheet: Sumerian Contributions

Instructions: Based on the lesson and the Reading: Sumerian Innovations, answer the following questions to the best of your ability.

Part 1: Key Contributions

1. Cuneiform Writing:
   a. What is cuneiform and what materials did Sumerians use to write it?
   
   
   
   
   b. List two important ways cuneiform benefited Sumerian society.
   
   
   
   

2. The Wheel:
   a. What were the initial uses of the wheel in Sumer?
   
   
   
   
   b. How did the wheel impact Sumerian society and what is its lasting legacy?
   
   
   
   

3. Irrigation Systems:
   a. Why were advanced irrigation systems necessary in Sumer?
   
   
   
   
   b. How did irrigation lead to the development of cities and specialized labor?
   
   
   
   

4. Early Law Codes:
   a. What was the purpose of early Sumerian law codes?
   
   
   
   
   b. How do these early laws connect to legal systems we have today?
   
   
   
   

5. Mathematics and Astronomy:
   a. What unique number system did the Sumerians develop?
   
   
   
   
   b. Provide two examples of how Sumerian mathematical/astronomical concepts still influence our lives.
   
   
   
   

Part 2: Reflect and Connect

6. Choose one Sumerian innovation you learned about today. Describe how society might be different without this specific contribution.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

7. In your opinion, which Sumerian contribution had the most significant impact on the long-term development of human civilization? Explain your reasoning.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Activity: Sumerian Impact Stations

Instructions: In your assigned small groups (2-3 students), you will rotate through different stations, each focusing on a key Sumerian contribution. At each station, read the prompt and complete the task. Be prepared to share your findings with the class.

Station 1: Cuneiform & Communication

Prompt: Cuneiform was the world's first writing system. Imagine you are a Sumerian scribe. What information would be most important to record for your city-state? How would writing this down change how your society functions compared to an oral tradition?

Task:

1. Discuss and list at least three types of information (e.g., laws, stories, trade deals) you would prioritize recording using cuneiform.
2. Draw a simple example of a cuneiform tablet with a few symbols representing one of your listed items. (You don't need to know actual cuneiform; just illustrate the idea of wedge-shaped marks).
3. Explain how this invention differentiates a complex society from a simpler one.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Station 2: The Wheel & Technology

Prompt: The invention of the wheel profoundly impacted Sumerian life. Consider its early applications and how it might have spurred other innovations. If you could introduce one new use for the wheel in ancient Sumer, what would it be and why?

Task:

1. Brainstorm and list at least two specific ways the wheel changed Sumerian society (e.g., transportation, pottery, warfare).
2. Describe one new practical application for the wheel that Sumerians didn't develop, and explain how it would further improve their lives.
3. Think about modern technology; how many inventions rely on the principle of the wheel?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Station 3: Irrigation & Resource Management

Prompt: Sumerians transformed their arid landscape into fertile farmland through ingenious irrigation systems. How did this control over natural resources lead to societal changes beyond just more food? What challenges might they have faced in building and maintaining these systems?

Task:

1. Explain how irrigation led to both population growth and job specialization in Sumer.
2. Identify at least two potential problems or conflicts that might arise from managing shared irrigation systems between different city-states.
3. Compare Sumerian irrigation efforts to modern challenges in water management around the world.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Station 4: Law Codes & Social Order

Prompt: Early Sumerian law codes, like that of Ur-Nammu, were attempts to establish justice and order. Choose one aspect of modern law (e.g., property rights, criminal justice, family law). How might a Sumerian law code address this, and what would be the similarities or differences to today?

Task:

1. Discuss why a written legal code is more effective than unwritten customs for a large society.
2. Select a modern legal concept (e.g., theft, marriage, inheritance). Write a short, simple Sumerian-style law (e.g., "If a man steals... then he shall...") that addresses it.
3. Compare your Sumerian-style law to how that concept is handled in modern society. What are the key differences in enforcement or philosophy?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Cool-Down: 3-2-1 Reflection

Instructions: Please complete the following reflection based on today's lesson about ancient Sumer. Submit your responses before you leave.

Reflect and Connect

3 things you learned about Sumerian contributions:

2 questions you still have or want to explore further about ancient Sumer:

1 way Sumerian contributions impact your life today:

Answer Key: Sumerian Contributions

Part 1: Key Contributions

1. Cuneiform Writing:
   a. What is cuneiform and what materials did Sumerians use to write it?

   • Thought Process: Recall the definition of cuneiform from the reading/slides, focusing on its appearance and the tools used.
   • Answer: Cuneiform is one of the earliest systems of writing, characterized by wedge-shaped marks. Sumerians used a stylus to press these marks into wet clay tablets.

   b. List two important ways cuneiform benefited Sumerian society.

   • Thought Process: Think about the functions of writing in an organized society as discussed in the lesson.
   • Answer: Cuneiform allowed for detailed record-keeping (e.g., trade, taxes, laws) and the transmission of knowledge and stories, which helped in governance, education, and preserving culture.

2. The Wheel:
   a. What were the initial uses of the wheel in Sumer?

   • Thought Process: Remember the initial applications of the wheel before it was used for transportation.
   • Answer: Initially, the wheel was likely used for pottery, helping to spin clay more efficiently.

   b. How did the wheel impact Sumerian society and what is its lasting legacy?

   • Thought Process: Consider how transportation and manufacturing changed with the wheel and its broader influence.
   • Answer: The wheel revolutionized transportation (carts, chariots) and manufacturing (pottery), making trade and movement more efficient. Its lasting legacy is its fundamental role in almost all modern machinery and vehicles.

3. Irrigation Systems:
   a. Why were advanced irrigation systems necessary in Sumer?

   • Thought Process: Recall the geographical context of Sumer and its agricultural needs.
   • Answer: Sumer was located in an arid region between two rivers with unpredictable floods. Irrigation systems were necessary to control water, divert it to fields, and prevent destructive flooding, making agriculture possible and productive.

   b. How did irrigation lead to the development of cities and specialized labor?

   • Thought Process: Connect agricultural surplus to population and societal structure.
   • Answer: Effective irrigation led to a surplus of food, which could feed larger populations, encouraging the growth of cities. This surplus also meant not everyone had to farm, allowing people to specialize in other roles like crafts, governance, or religion, leading to a more complex division of labor.

4. Early Law Codes:
   a. What was the purpose of early Sumerian law codes?

   • Thought Process: Consider why rules and laws are created in any society.
   • Answer: The purpose of early Sumerian law codes was to establish order, provide justice, resolve disputes, and maintain predictable social structures within their growing cities and complex societies.

   b. How do these early laws connect to legal systems we have today?

   • Thought Process: Think about the fundamental principles of modern legal systems.
   • Answer: They connect by establishing the concept of codified, written laws as a framework for governing society, protecting citizens, and defining responsibilities – a cornerstone of legal systems worldwide today.

5. Mathematics and Astronomy:
   a. What unique number system did the Sumerians develop?

   • Thought Process: Remember the specific base of their number system.
   • Answer: The Sumerians developed a sexagesimal (base-60) number system.

   b. Provide two examples of how Sumerian mathematical/astronomical concepts still influence our lives.

   • Thought Process: Recall the specific modern measurements that derive from their base-60 system.
   • Answer: Their concepts still influence our lives in the 60 minutes in an hour, 60 seconds in a minute, and the 360 degrees in a circle.

Part 2: Reflect and Connect

6. Choose one Sumerian innovation you learned about today. Describe how society might be different without this specific contribution.

   • Thought Process: This is an open-ended question. Students should select one contribution and extrapolate the consequences of its absence. Look for logical connections.
   • Example Answer (Cuneiform): Without cuneiform writing, organized large-scale governance would be incredibly difficult. Laws couldn't be universally applied or recorded for posterity, leading to chaos. Trade would rely solely on memory and verbal agreements, limiting its complexity and reach. Knowledge transmission would be entirely oral, making education and historical record unreliable and prone to loss.

7. In your opinion, which Sumerian contribution had the most significant impact on the long-term development of human civilization? Explain your reasoning.

   • Thought Process: This is an opinion-based question requiring justification. Students should argue for one contribution and support it with evidence from the lesson/reading.
   • Example Answer (Cuneiform): I believe cuneiform writing had the most significant long-term impact. While the wheel and irrigation were crucial, writing allowed for the recording and accumulation of all other knowledge. Laws, scientific observations, literature, and history could be preserved and built upon across generations and cultures. Without writing, much of the intellectual progress enabled by other inventions might have been lost or developed much more slowly, as each generation would have to start from scratch without a reliable record of the past.