By Carlos Just
Why were river valleys the first place for
complex societies?
1. The availability of water helped them to farm, because
they wouldn’t have to walk far to get water.
2. The soil between two rivers has good farming
conditions.
3. Farming produced lots of crops so it was easy to feed
large amounts of people.
4. The rivers provided fish and fresh water to drink.
5. It was easy to travel in the river.
There are many advantages for people to settle by the
rivers.
How did farmers control floods?
The farmers figured out how to make dams and dig
trenches. They would also build water ways and ditches
to bring water to their fields for their crops. Irrigation
allowed farmers to grow plenty of food and support a
large amount of humans. Because of the ability to control
seasonal floods, by 3,000 B.C. large cities had formed in a
region called Sumer.
Ancient Sumerians used cuneiform and
rebus writing systems. Why was this so
important?
1.
Cuneiform is a kind of pictoral writing first used in Mesopotamia.
It was used to keep records of trade and other things. (For
example a picture of barley meant barley.)
2.
Cuneiform was carved into clay with a stylus that left wedgeshaped marks.
3.
Eventually the Mesopotamians used rebus writing. A rebus
represents a syllable. (For example, a symbol meaning “car” and
another meaning “pet” might be put together to mean “carpet”.
4. Today a rebus might be used for kids that need help reading long
words.
5.
Writing in Mesopotamia was important because it allowed them
to write down their laws and business transactions. Writing down
business made it possible for them make bigger trades.
Important Sumerian inventions and
mathematical concepts.
Inventions:
1.
Sumerians invented the stamp allowing them to make quick copies of trades and market
transactions.
2.
The sailboat was first used in the 4 th millennium and it enabled ancient people to travel by water
faster and without as much work.
3.
We have evidence of wheeled vehicles from the mid-4th millennium BC . The wheel allowed
Mesopotamians to move heavy objects and larger quantities of stuff to trade.
Mathematical Concepts:
1.
1. The Sumerian math system (called sexagesimal) is centered on the base figure of 60. This system
allowed them to multiply into the millions and calculate roots and exponents.
2.
Sumerians also used a ‘place concept’; so depending on where a number is located it will have a
different value.
3.
The Sumerian measuring system used a 12-inch foot. The consistent use of this measurement
meant everybody in a trade agreement could know they were getting a fair trade.
How do we use these things today:
We still use many of these inventions today. We use wheels on cars, stamps for hobby purposes, and
sailboats for recreation. We still use a 12-inch foot and our number system depends on place value.
The story of Gilgamesh – World’s First
Superhero
The legend of Gilgamesh is about a very bored leader who has run out of
ideas of what to do. So, the gods, send down Enkidu – a wild man who is
stronger and faster than Gilgamesh. Gilgamesh and Enkidu wrestle, hit each
other, bite and scratch one another, but neither one can beat the other. They
begin laughing and become friends. To go off to the Forbidden Forest
looking for monsters to fight.
My favorite part is the fight of Enkidu and Gilgamesh. I think a fight between
two strong people who are two-thirds gods would be fun to watch.
What is a ziggurat? What was its
function?
A ziggurat is an ancient Sumerian temple. Sumerians believed important
gods lived in the sky so they built their ziggurats with steps that led to the
top. Sumerians held rituals and left offerings of bread and wine on the steps
which the priests enjoyed. Sometimes they would hold festivals at the
ziggurats , but on other days you might see people living daily lives.
If I built a model of a ziggurat I would make small rectangular bricks from
mud and then glue them together with mud in a pyramid with a rectangle
base and sides with steps.