Life in SumerLife in Sumer

Chapter 3 Lesson 3Chapter 3 Lesson 3

Day 1Day 1

Sumerian SocietySumerian Society

Social classes- Determines who has power Social classes- Determines who has power in society.in society.– Upper ClassUpper Class

KingsKings PriestsPriests

– People believed they had influence with gods. Had People believed they had influence with gods. Had tremendous power over people. tremendous power over people.

Landowners, government officials, rich merchants.Landowners, government officials, rich merchants.

– Middle ClassMiddle Class Free people (artisans, farmers)Free people (artisans, farmers)

– Lower ClassLower Class SlavesSlaves

Sumerian SocietySumerian Society

Slaves used as cheap labor.Slaves used as cheap labor. Examples of slaves:Examples of slaves:

– Prisoners of war.Prisoners of war.– Children of Sumerians who may have died, Children of Sumerians who may have died,

would work in the Ziggurat for priests. would work in the Ziggurat for priests. – Free person who needed to work off a debt. Free person who needed to work off a debt.

Had some rightsHad some rights– Conduct business (trade).Conduct business (trade).– Borrow money.Borrow money.– Could also buy their freedom.Could also buy their freedom.

Sumerian SocietySumerian Society

The roles and positions of women The roles and positions of women varied in Mesopotamia. varied in Mesopotamia.

Had more rights in early Mesopotamian Had more rights in early Mesopotamian history than later.history than later.

Upper class women could become Upper class women could become priestesses. priestesses.

Free women could own land and could Free women could own land and could work for artisans. work for artisans.

Most women were caretakers of Most women were caretakers of children. children.

Sumerian Sumerian Science and TechnologyScience and Technology

Inventive and intelligent people. Inventive and intelligent people. Invented tools and developed special Invented tools and developed special

knowledge to improve life. knowledge to improve life. Early inventionsEarly inventions

– The plow (6000 B.C.)The plow (6000 B.C.)– The wheel (3500 B.C.) The wheel (3500 B.C.)

Inventions helped Sumerians in Inventions helped Sumerians in everyday life. everyday life.

Sumerian Sumerian Science and TechnologyScience and Technology

The Plow (6000 B.C.). The Plow (6000 B.C.). – First important tool invented to help First important tool invented to help

farmers dig. First plows were sticks with farmers dig. First plows were sticks with handles.handles. Pushed or pulled, first by humans then by Pushed or pulled, first by humans then by

animals. animals.

– Broke up hard soil. Broke up hard soil. – Easier to plant seeds.Easier to plant seeds.– Roots received more water with plowed Roots received more water with plowed

soil. soil.

Sumerian Sumerian Science and TechnologyScience and Technology

The Wheel (3500 B.C.).The Wheel (3500 B.C.).– Used on wagons to transport goods. Used on wagons to transport goods.

Helped farmers take crops more easily to Helped farmers take crops more easily to markets. markets.

Transporting goods by river was still easier. Transporting goods by river was still easier.

– Pottery wheel helped Sumerians create Pottery wheel helped Sumerians create pots more easily. pots more easily.

Bronze- Mixture of copper and tin. Bronze- Mixture of copper and tin. – Stronger than copper tools.Stronger than copper tools.– Bronze tools became trading item. Bronze tools became trading item.

Sumerian Sumerian Science and TechnologyScience and Technology

MathematicsMathematics– Sumerians developed arithmetic to keep track Sumerians developed arithmetic to keep track

of crops, trade goods.of crops, trade goods.– Based on the number 60.Based on the number 60.

60 seconds in a minute.60 seconds in a minute. 60 minutes in an hour. 60 minutes in an hour. Circles have 360 degrees.Circles have 360 degrees. Measurement of time helped create calendars. Measurement of time helped create calendars.

Understood geometric shapesUnderstood geometric shapes– Triangles, rectangles, squares.Triangles, rectangles, squares.– Shapes used to create bricks, ramps, canals. Shapes used to create bricks, ramps, canals.

Questions?Questions?