Daily Life in Ancient Sumer

By Clint Edwards

This book explores what life was really like for everyday people in ancient Sumer. Using primary sources and information from archeological discoveries, it uncovers some fascinating insights and explodes some myths. Supported by timelines, maps, and references to important events and people, children will really feel they are on a time-traveling journey when reading this book.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Capstone Young Readers
• Release date: May 1, 2019
• ISBN: 9781484654903

Clint Edwards

Nick Hunter has written more than 30 books for young people. He has a degree in Modern History and specializes in writing about history and social studies. Nick enjoys all aspects of pop culture, particularly music from the 1950s to the present day. Before becoming an author, Nick worked in educational publishing for many years. He lives in Oxford, UK with his wife and two sons.

Book preview

Daily Life in Ancient Civilizations: Daily Life in Ancient Sumer by Nick Hunter

TABLE OF CONTENTS

COVER

TITLE PAGE

WHO WERE THE SUMERIANS?

HOW DID THE SUMERIAN CIVILIZATION DEVELOP?

WHAT WAS CITY LIFE LIKE IN ANCIENT SUMER?

WHO WAS IN CHARGE IN ANCIENT SUMER?

WHAT DID THE SUMERIANS BELIEVE?

DID THE SUMERIANS FIGHT WARS?

WHERE DID THE SUMERIANS' FOOD COME FROM?

WHAT JOBS DID THE SUMERIANS DO?

WHAT WAS SUMERIAN HOME LIFE LIKE?

WHAT DID THE SUMERIANS WEAR?

WHAT DID THE SUMERIANS DO FOR FUN?

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A SUMERIAN BOY

TIMELINE

GLOSSARY

FIND OUT MORE

INDEX

COPYRIGHT

BACK COVER

WHO WERE THE SUMERIANS?

The first human civilizations developed between 5,000 and 6,000 years ago around the great rivers of Africa and Asia. People organized themselves into cities and states, often ruled by powerful kings. These people communicated with each other using written languages. They included the people of ancient Egypt, who lived along the Nile River, and the Indus Valley civilization of northern India. The ancient Sumerian civilization grew around the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, in the area that is now Iraq.

picture

The Sumerian people settled around the Tigris and Euphrates rivers.

Culture of invention

The Sumerian civilization, which began around 3300 BCE, was centered on several city-states, such as Kish and Ur. These were the first cities on Earth. The city was just one of many essential inventions created by the Sumerians, from the wheel to the way we divide the day into minutes and hours.

picture

This object, called the Standard of Ur, was found in the tomb of a Sumerian queen. The mosaic pictures that cover it show how people lived more than 4,000 years ago.

The Sumerian civilization came to an end around 2000 BCE, when it was absorbed into neighboring cultures. But the impact of the culture can still be felt almost 4,000 years later.

HOW DO WE KNOW?

The Sumerian civilization ended approximately 4,000 years ago. We know more about its people and how they lived than about some more recent civilizations. This is because