Sumerové

The Sumerians were an ancient civilization and cultural region located in southern Mesopotamia, in modern-day Iraq. They are among the earliest known societies to have developed a complex urban civilization. The Sumerian civilization flourished from the 4th millennium BCE until its gradual assimilation into the Akkadian Empire in the early 2nd millennium BCE.

Sumer is credited with numerous significant innovations that profoundly impacted human history. Among their most notable achievements is the invention of writing, specifically cuneiform script, which was used for record-keeping, literature, and administration. They also developed sophisticated irrigation systems, enabling large-scale agriculture in the arid Mesopotamian plains. Their advancements in mathematics, including a sexagesimal (base-60) number system, and astronomy laid foundations for future scientific inquiry.

Sumerian society was organized into independent city-states, each governed by its own ruler and patron deity. Prominent cities included Uruk, Ur, Lagash, and Eridu. Religion played a central role in Sumerian life, with a pantheon of gods and goddesses who were believed to influence natural phenomena and human affairs. They constructed monumental ziggurats, temple towers that served as religious and administrative centers.

Sumerian culture was rich in mythology, epic poetry, and religious texts. The Epic of Gilgamesh, one of the earliest surviving works of literature, originated from Sumerian traditions. Their artistic achievements include intricate pottery, sculpture, and cylinder seals. The Sumerians' legacy is evident in the subsequent development of Mesopotamian cultures and their contributions to the broader history of civilization.