Sumerian Economy

The Sumerian economy, established around 4500 BCE in Mesopotamia, was primarily agrarian, relying on farming and irrigation to grow crops like barley and wheat. Trade played a significant role, with Sumerians exchanging surplus goods, such as textiles and pottery, for resources not available locally, like timber and metals. They used a system of records, cuneiform writing, to track transactions and manage resources. Social classes influenced economic roles, with priests and elites often controlling land, while laborers, craftsmen, and merchants contributed to the overall economy. This complex system laid the groundwork for future economic structures in civilization.