Land of two rivers

What challenges did the ancient Sumerians face

• Blazing sun scorching
• Blowing hot and dusty wind
• 110 degree protected dry land
• Hot summer little rain
• Flooding was unpredictable

What was there solution to these problems

• Canals were part of an irrigation system Dams, gate canals
• They would open gates and use gravity to give water
• The water spreads rich soil on top of the sand
• They dug artificial mad made lakes or ponds to hold excess water

How did the solution affect the development of Sumerian civilization in the following categories?

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

New Jobs

• Brick maker
• Butchers
• Potter maker
• Canal builders

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

Trade farming products for

• Wheat
• Dates
• Wool
• Dairy products
• Barley

How did the development of Sumerian civilization contribute to new ideas

Keeping records

• Wanted to keep records to know what to bring to trade not to rely on there memory
• Created a Bulla - a closed ball with a hole at the top
• They dropped clay shapes in to the Bulla to remind them what to bring
• Only way to see how many tokens required breaking the Bulla
• Began to draw a triangle on the outside and they see tally marks
• No need for tokens - began idea of writing

It is used for breaking hard clay soil

The sailboat moves the boat up the stream

The wheel was created to move crops and to trade over land

Tin + copper = bronze

Works cited

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