Sumer: The Cradle of Civilization

Q: What is Sumer?

Sumer was a region in southern Mesopotamia corresponding to modern-day southern Iraq and parts of Kuwait.

Q: What is Sumer famous for?

Sumer is famous for several 'firsts' in civilization, including the wheel, cities, writing, schools, proverbs, legal precedents, government, the dog collar, and even the first aquarium.

Q: Did the Sumerians invent time?

The Sumerians invented the concept of time by dividing 24 hours into twelve hours of day and twelve hours of night and establishing the hours that make up a workday and the times in the year that are holidays.

Q: When did Sumer fall?

Sumer fell to the Elamites c. 1750 BCE.

Joshua J. Mark

Definition

Sumer was the southernmost region of ancient Mesopotamia (modern-day southern Iraq and parts of Kuwait), which has long been considered the cradle of civilization. The name comes from Akkadian, the language of the north of Mesopotamia, and means "land of the civilized kings." Sumer is recognized as the birthplace of many of the 'firsts' of civilization, including writing and the development of the city.

More about: Sumer

Timeline

c. 6500 BCE - 4000 BCE
The Ubaid period in Sumer.
c. 5400 BCE
The city of Eridu is founded.
c. 5000 BCE
Godin Tepe settled.
c. 5000 BCE - c. 4500 BCE
The city of Uruk founded.
c. 5000 BCE
Evidence of burial in Sumer.
c. 4500 BCE
The Sumerians built their first temple.
c. 4000 BCE - c. 1750 BCE
Sumerian civilization in the Tigris-Euphrates valley.
4000 BCE - 3100 BCE
Uruk period in Mesopotamia. First cities.
c. 3600 BCE
Invention of writing in Sumer at Uruk.
c. 3200 BCE
First instance of written language in Sumerian.
c. 2900 BCE - c. 2334 BCE
The Early Dynastic period in Sumer.
c. 2600 BCE - c. 2000 BCE
The Royal Graves of Ur used in Sumer.
2500 BCE
First Dynasty of Lagash under King Eannutum is first empire in Mesopotamia.
c. 2500 BCE
Beginning of literature in Sumerian.
2350 BCE
First code of laws by Urukagina, king of Lagash.
c. 2150 BCE - c. 1400 BCE
The tales of Gilgamesh written which inform the Epic of Gilgamesh.
c. 2141 BCE - c. 2050 BCE
The Gutian period in Sumer.
c. 2119 BCE - c. 2112 BCE
Reign of Utu-Hegal at Uruk in Sumer.
c. 2112 BCE - c. 2004 BCE
The Ur III period in Sumer, known as the Sumerian Renaissance.
c. 2112 BCE - c. 2094 BCE
Ur-Nammu's reign over Sumer.
c. 2038 BCE
King Shulgi of Ur builds his great wall in Sumer.
c. 1772 BCE
The Code of Hammurabi: One of the earliest codes of law in the world.
1750 BCE
Elamite invasion and Amorite migration ends the Sumerian civilization.
c. 1120 BCE
Extant copy of the Sumerian Enuma Elish (creation story) is made from much older text.