Sumerian Contributions
Sumerians created a way of writing called cuneiform.
Cuneiform was written by using wedge-shaped marks cut into
damp clay. Only a few people learned to read and write
cuneiform. Some of these people became scribes. A scribe is a
person who records business dealings and important events.
The oldest known story in the world comes from Sumer. This
story is called the Epic of Gilgamesh. An epic is a long poem
that tells the story of a hero.
The Sumerians made many useful inventions. An invention is
something new that is made. The Sumerians were the first
people to use the wheel. They were also the first to use sailboats
and wooden plows. In addition, they were the first to make
bronze out of copper and tin.
The Sumerians studied mathematics and astronomy.
Astronomy is the study of planets, stars, and other objects in
space. By watching the position of the stars they learned the best
times to plant crops.
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2/1/1/1! be here/p
Check for Understanding
List three inventions or ideas that Sumerians passed
on to other civilizations.
4.
Sumerian Inventions
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cuneiform
wheel
salboats
wooden plows
bronze
List one characteristic of a Sumerian city-state.
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