INDEPENDENT SUMERIAN CITY-

STATES

Do Now1. Take out your vocabulary sheet

2. Take out your Lesson 3.2 Fact-Finder

The Emergence of Cities

The Emergence of CitiesIn 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 CitiesOver 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 CitiesEach city-state was independent but

people shared acommon 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 ReligionFirst political or government structure of

each citystate was made up of:

1. A small group of leaders

2. A chief leader chosen by the group

Government and ReligionTogether, they made laws, decided what

work had tobe done, and dealt with disputes over land

or waterrights

Government and ReligionWhen faced with war, different leaders

could notalways agree on what to do, so a single

leader wasneeded

Government and ReligionThis 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 ReligionThe King had complete authority or power

over:

1. Religion

2. The Economy

3. Everyday Life

Government and ReligionThe King appointed officials to carry out

his orders,often concerning economic surpluses and

buildingprojects

Government and ReligionBelow the King, priests were the most

importantpeople in society

Government and ReligionSumerians practiced polytheism, and their

beliefsincluded:

a. The belief in many gods

b. Each natural event had its own god

c. One god protected each city-state

Commercial SocietyEconomic system built on surpluses, which

led to newkinds of jobs, production of new goods,

and peoplebegan to trade their surpluses

Commercial SocietyIn each city, jobs held were:

a. Farming

b. Craft-workers

c. Metalworkers

d. Builders

Commercial SocietySumerians depended on long distance

trade, as therewere no metals or trees found in Sumer

Commercial SocietyExported: Agricultural surpluses, such as grains and

dates

Commercial SocietyImported:Metals, wood, and other resources

Commercial SocietyGroups of traders traveled together on

long journeyscalled caravans

Commercial SocietyCarried goods by donkeys throughout the

FertileCrescent

Later traders used sailboats to carry goods on

waterways to distant places

Commercial SocietyBy 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?