LAND OF TWO RIVERS

WHAT CLIMATE PROBLEMS DID THE ANCIENT SUMERIANS FACE?

CLIMATE PROBLEMS

• Blazing hot sun-scorching
• Blowing hot and dusty winds-parched, dry land
• 110 degree heat
• Hot summer-little rain during summer
• Flooding- it was unpredictable

WHAT WAS THEIR SOLUTION TO THESE PROBLEMS

SOLUTIONS TO CLIMATE

• Canals were part of a irrigation system
• Dams, gates and canals opened gates and used gravity to give water
• Spread rich soil
• Made artificial (Man-made) to give water to lakes or ponds to hold excess water

How did the solution affect the development of Sumerian civilizations in the following categories

Having irrigation systems -> gave surplus to the farmers -> allowed less people to work at farming. -> Freed up people time to live in cities.

NEW JOBS

• Brick makers
• Canal builders
• Potters
• Butchers

Great temples were built to please the gods and store surplus again

TRADE FARMING PRODUCTS FOR

• Metal
• Decorated pottery
• Jewelry
• Musical instruments
• Colorful fabrics

How did the development of Sumerian civilization contribute to new ideas?

TECHNOLOGY

• Plow-break through hard clay
• Wheel-to move/Trade over land
• Sailboat-to trade on the rivers
• Mixing metal-make tools and weapons (copper+fin=Bronze)

Sumerians invented the bulla to keep track of records.

• It will keep track of business deals
• They could make new inventions
• They created a bulla/ token holder made of clay
• Didn’t know what was inside so they pressed marks
• This lead to the writing system

Sumerians invented the wheel to move items to trade over land.

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