Mesopotamia - Life in Sumer

Ancient Sumer was a bustling place.  The Sumerians were clever and inventive, and they built long docks along the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers, where boats would dock and bring goods for trade.  A very complex civilization grew, and many accomplishments are attributed to the Sumerians.  Can you imagine that certain levels of people might develop?  When trading, how will records be kept?  

Ancient Sumerians are credited with many inventions that have changed the way humans live.  One of the most important is the development of a written language.  It is called cuneiform.  Cuneiform began as pictographs, that eventually turned into wedge-shaped symbols for objects and ideas.  Using this, the oldest known recorded story, The Epic of Gilgamesh, was created.  It is an adventure story, that tells us about the important aspects of Sumerian culture.  What can we learn from a story?

Sumerian Social Classes:  As Sumerian society grew more complex, it divided people into different social groups, or classes.  Class systems often show who has power and who does the less desirable jobs.  Much was learned about these classes, when the Royal Tombs of Ur were discovered in the 1920's.   

The Standard of Ur: The Standard of Ur is a magnificent piece of Sumerian art discovered by Leonard Wooley in the Royal Tombs of Ur.  It depicts social classes in ancient Sumer.  The pictures below show the two sides of the Standard of Ur. (Standard is another word for a flag, or something carried into battle.)  The picture on the left is the "Peace" side, and the "War" side is on the right.  Can you see the different Sumerian social classes on the Peace side?  How about on the War side?  Can you see chariots, soldiers and warriors?  

Where is the king?  Clicking on the pictures will bring you to a website with additional information.