Sumerian Civilization

Paper Summary:

This paper describes and analyzes the Sumerian civilization which appeared approximately in 4000 B.C., on the flood plain of the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. The paper discusses some of the technical innovations attributed to the Sumerians, such as writing and systematic record keeping, the plow, social and economic organization and units of time. It describes how the Sumerians influenced those around them with these innovations.

From the Paper:

"According to archeological remains, the Sumerians were the first civilization that used a complex system of bookkeeping that allowed them to record transactions within the community as well as transactions of trade with neighboring societies. Although they still remain a mystery as to their origin, the Sumerians seem to have appeared as a fully developed society with technology and organizational skills far superior to any other societies of that era. The Sumerians evolved from hunters and gathers to communities of farmers who faced an unpredictable and hostile environment, yet their innovations in writing and recordkeeping influenced future civilizations. Not only are they credited with inventing the wheel, the plow, and timekeeping, but the earliest known literature, the epic of Gilgamesh, is attributed to the Sumerian civilization. Thus, modern civilizations owe much to this mysterious ancient peoples."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Conan, Neal. "Analysis: Tracing the history of Iraq from its earliest days of civilization to the present. Talk of the Nation: National Public Radio. September 19, 2002. Retrieved December 09 2006 from HighBeam Research Library.
• Watkins, Thayer. "Sumer." San Jose State University Economics Department. Retrieved December 09 2006 from HighBeam Research Library. http://www.sjsu.edu/faculty/watkins/sumer.htm
• Waymire, Gregory B. "Recordkeeping and human evolution." Accounting Horizons. September 01, 2006. Retrieved HighBeam Research Library.
• Wilkinson, Toby. "The evidence for early writing: utilitarian or ceremonial?" Antiquity. September 01, 1995. Retrieved December 09 2006 from HighBeam Research Library.

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