The Sumerians: Their History, Culture, and Character

The Sumerians, flourishing around 3000 BCE in southern Mesopotamia (modern Iraq), are credited with creating some of the world's first cities, writing (cuneiform), and advanced irrigation. Their society was organized into city-states governed by rulers and priests, with a rich mythology and impressive innovations like the wheel. They built impressive ziggurats and developed early legal codes. Known for their ingenuity, they valued education, commerce, and religion. Despite their ancient origins, the Sumerians profoundly influenced subsequent civilizations, laying foundational aspects of urban life, governance, and writing that shaped human history.