MMW 11 Chapter Notes - Chapter Sumerian, Metal Ages: Totalitarianism, Uruk Period, Mesilim
8 Oct 2016
School
Department
Course
Professor
Document Summary
Sumerian civilization was the earliest of world"s urban civilizations: sumeria area in souther mesopotamia, emerged during uruk period (after ubaid) Rapid population increase from ubaid times continued into uruk times -> created city-states. Communities were so large -> developed the beginnings of a government, were able to grow enough food for their people: metal tools and weapons came into use. Temples were main center for sumerian cities: could store food and tools here for rationing or trading. To keep track of all of this, writing emerged (3400 bc: emerged from clay token system used widely, arose from pictographs. Only use for record-keeping: after development of cuneiform system (2900 bc), literature slowly developed. Beginning early dynastic period (2900 bc 2334 bc), kings were the center of power in cities: had religious functions, served to see if city would enjoy favor of gods, claimed to be close to gods.
