More languages
More actions
Redirect Tags: New redirect Visual edit |
Removed redirect to Mesopotamia#Sumer Tags: Removed redirect Visual edit |
||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{Infobox country|name=Sumer|native_name=𒆠𒂗𒄀|image_map=Sumer cities map.svg|map_width=260|map_caption=Map of ancient Sumerian cities|common_languages=Sumerian}} | |||
'''Sumer''' was an early [[Bronze Age]] civilization located in modern-day [[Republic of Iraq|Iraq]]. | |||
== History == | |||
In prehistoric times, Mesopotamia was made of swamps and deserts. Neolithic [[Agriculture|farmers]] drained the swamps and irrigated the sand to create extremely fertile land.<ref name=":02222">{{Citation|author=Neil Faulkner|year=2013|title=A Marxist History of the World: From Neanderthals to Neoliberals|chapter=The First Class Societies|page=16–21|pdf=https://cloudflare-ipfs.com/ipfs/bafykbzacedljwr5izotdclz23o3c5p4di4t3ero3ncbfytip55slhiz4otuls?filename=Neil%20Faulkner%20-%20A%20Marxist%20History%20of%20the%20World_%20From%20Neanderthals%20to%20Neoliberals-Pluto%20Press%20%282013%29.pdf|publisher=Pluto Press|isbn=9781849648639|lg=https://libgen.rs/book/index.php?md5=91CA6C708BFE15444FE27899217FBA8E}}</ref> | |||
During the fourth and third millennia BCE, Sumer created massive agricultural surpluses and bronze tools that turned villages into the first cities. They invented writing to keep track of economic records, especially taxes and dues. Temples and estates formally belonged to the gods, and priests managed the land while wage workers or tenant farmers worked it. Priests developed into city governors, and later, kings who frequently went to war with each other.<ref name=":02222" /> | |||
In the middle of the third millennium BCE, the city of [[Kish]] became a major power, and its rulers declared themselves "king of the whole world."<ref name=":0">{{Library citation|link=Ancient Civilisations of East and West}}</ref> | |||
King [[Eannatum]] of Lagash defeated Umma in the mid-25th century BCE. [[Entemena]], who ruled about a century after Eannatum, ended the war by defeating Umma again. The war worsened the internal economy of Lagash.<ref name=":0" /> | |||
=== Reforms of Urukagina === | |||
The masses supported [[Urukagina]], who removed King [[Lugalanda]] from power and made himself king. Urukagina reigned for six years and enacted the first known laws in history. He reduced [[Tax|taxes]] on the [[clergy]], increased payments to temple workers, and made temples independent from royal authority. He decreased the amount of religious payment and conscript labor required for free commoners and exempted craftsmen from some taxes. He reestablished rural courts and protected the citizens of Lagash against [[debt]] slavery. An alliance between the cities of Umma and [[Uruk]] conquered Lagash and reversed Urukagina's reforms.<ref name=":0" /> [[Lugalzagesi]], the king of Umma then conquered Uruk, [[Adab]], and [[Eridu]] to unite most of Sumer under his rule.<ref name=":03">{{Library citation|link=Ancient Civilisations of East and West}}</ref> | |||
== References == | |||
[[Category:Ancient history]] | |||
[[Category:Civilizations]] | |||
Latest revision as of 18:09, 6 August 2025
| Sumer 𒆠𒂗𒄀 | |
|---|---|
 Map of ancient Sumerian cities | |
| Common languages | Sumerian |
Sumer was an early Bronze Age civilization located in modern-day Iraq.
History[edit | edit source]
In prehistoric times, Mesopotamia was made of swamps and deserts. Neolithic farmers drained the swamps and irrigated the sand to create extremely fertile land.[1]
During the fourth and third millennia BCE, Sumer created massive agricultural surpluses and bronze tools that turned villages into the first cities. They invented writing to keep track of economic records, especially taxes and dues. Temples and estates formally belonged to the gods, and priests managed the land while wage workers or tenant farmers worked it. Priests developed into city governors, and later, kings who frequently went to war with each other.[1]
In the middle of the third millennium BCE, the city of Kish became a major power, and its rulers declared themselves "king of the whole world."[2]
King Eannatum of Lagash defeated Umma in the mid-25th century BCE. Entemena, who ruled about a century after Eannatum, ended the war by defeating Umma again. The war worsened the internal economy of Lagash.[2]
Reforms of Urukagina[edit | edit source]
The masses supported Urukagina, who removed King Lugalanda from power and made himself king. Urukagina reigned for six years and enacted the first known laws in history. He reduced taxes on the clergy, increased payments to temple workers, and made temples independent from royal authority. He decreased the amount of religious payment and conscript labor required for free commoners and exempted craftsmen from some taxes. He reestablished rural courts and protected the citizens of Lagash against debt slavery. An alliance between the cities of Umma and Uruk conquered Lagash and reversed Urukagina's reforms.[2] Lugalzagesi, the king of Umma then conquered Uruk, Adab, and Eridu to unite most of Sumer under his rule.[3]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Neil Faulkner (2013). A Marxist History of the World: From Neanderthals to Neoliberals: 'The First Class Societies' (pp. 16–21). [PDF] Pluto Press. ISBN 9781849648639 [LG]
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Grigory Bongard-Levin, Boris Piotrovsky (1988). Ancient Civilisations of East and West. https://archive.org/details/ancientciveastwest/mode/1up.
- ↑ Grigory Bongard-Levin, Boris Piotrovsky (1988). Ancient Civilisations of East and West. https://archive.org/details/ancientciveastwest/mode/1up.