The Sumerians

The Sumerians were an ancient civilization that emerged in Mesopotamia, around 4500 BCE, in what is now southern Iraq. They are credited with many innovations, including the invention of cuneiform writing, one of the earliest forms of written language. Sumerians developed advanced agricultural techniques, built city-states like Ur and Uruk, and created monumental architecture, such as ziggurats. Their society was marked by complex religion, trade, and governance. The Sumerians greatly influenced future cultures in the region, laying foundational aspects of human civilization, such as law, literature, and urban organization.