Around the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers an ancient civilization flourished between 5,500 BCE to 1,000 BCE. It was broken up into city-states; each had their own kings. Unlike the Egyptians, the Sumerian Kings were not looked upon as gods or children of gods. They were seen as normal people just doing their job to maintain peace between other city-states and were sometimes war leaders. Priest and scribes were there to collect taxes later on when the government became too challenging. Priest were also needed for ceremonies and festivals to honor the gods. Honoring the gods, trade, and irrigation were the main reasons the city-states stayed together and didn't form their own civilization. Since their settlement fertile crescent and they had easy access to fresh water they naturally became a huge civilization.