Lesson 4: The Rise of Sumerian City-States

Key Idea

Around 5000 B.C.E., farmers in the Zagros foothills faced a growing problem. As their population increased, they could no longer grow enough food on the hilly land. This food shortage pushed them to move in search of a better place to farm.

They settled on the flat plains of Sumer. The soil was rich, but the environment created new difficulties. An uncontrolled water supply meant destructive floods in the spring and dry, hard ground for the rest of the year.

Key Idea

Historians learn about ancient Sumer by studying what people left behind. The field of archaeology involves digging for artifacts to find clues about the past. This work helps tell the story of people who did not leave many written records.

At the Sumerian city of Ur, Sir Leonard Woolley showed how this is done. He used scientific methods to carefully dig and record his findings. This was different from treasure hunting because his goal was to understand the people, not just find valuable objects.

Key Idea

Life on the Sumerian plains required dealing with an uncontrolled water supply. In the spring, the Tigris and Euphrates rivers flooded, washing away crops. During the rest of the year, the hot sun baked the soil, making it too dry for farming.

To solve this problem, farmers developed a complex irrigation system. They built levees, or walls of earth, along the riverbanks to prevent flooding. They also dug canals to guide river water to their fields. This technology allowed them to control their water supply and grow food reliably.

Key Idea

A complex irrigation system was too big for one village to build and manage. Canals and dams needed to serve many farms across a wide area, creating a new challenge for the Sumerians.

To make the system work, people from different villages had to cooperate. They worked together to dig channels and keep them clear of silt. This shared effort brought previously separate groups together for a common purpose.