Sumériens

The Sumerians were an ancient civilization who inhabited Mesopotamia, the region between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, in what is now modern-day Iraq. They are widely considered to be one of the earliest, if not the first, urban civilization in the world, with their cities flourishing from around the 4th millennium BCE. The Sumerians developed a complex society with sophisticated systems of governance, religion, and a written language known as cuneiform.

Key advancements attributed to the Sumerians include the invention of the wheel, the plow, and early forms of irrigation, which significantly improved agricultural productivity. Their cities, such as Uruk, Ur, and Eridu, were centers of trade and culture, featuring impressive ziggurats and elaborate temples. Sumerian mythology and religious beliefs profoundly influenced later Mesopotamian cultures, including the Akkadians, Babylonians, and Assyrians. Their legal codes and administrative practices also laid groundwork for future legal systems. The Sumerian civilization eventually declined, being absorbed by neighboring Semitic peoples, but their innovations and cultural legacy had a lasting impact on the development of human civilization.