PRESENTATION OUTLINE
CIVILIZATION CHARACTERISTICS
Social Structure
The social structure in Sumer was like this.The king was the best,government officials,priests and landowners were the upper class.The blacksmiths,merchants,
artisans,fishers and farmer were the middle class.The lowest class of people were slaves,they had barely any items of their own and were treated like items.We do not have slaves because they were treated wrong.
Stable Food Supply
The invention of agriculture enabled people to have a stable food supply.The Sumerians had to grow their food theirselves,but now we can go to a market or restraint if we want food. We also have artificial food,unlike the Sumerians,they only had natural food.
Religion
Just like us,Sumerians had beliefs about gods.Everyone in a community would believe in the same religion though,unlike us.People now can have different religions in one community,you don't even have to have a religion!
Writing
Sumerians had a written language like us,but it was different.The Sumerian created a written language called Cuneiform.Cuneiform is like pictographs,except they meant something specific,instead of meaning something you can only understand by guessing.Scribes were in charge of recording things in Cuneiform.
Government
The Sumerians had a government and so do we.The government is there to make sure everyone behaves correctly,by making laws and punishing those that did not follow the rules,here and in Sumer.Some differences between our government and Sumer's government is,Sumer had a king,we have a president and Sumer leader was believed to be chosen by the gods,our leader was chosen by the people that lived by the law.
Technology
Civilizations need technology to make there lives easier and better than without those inventions.We would see iPads,Galaxy phones,computers and T.V.s as advanced technology,it would blow Sumerian's minds.Sumerians would see wheels and arches as advanced technology,while we don't really care.
Culture
Culture makes civilizations more unique.Without culture the world would be very bland.The Sumerians culture,like others,had a lot to do with religion.
