The Wheel
Sumerians invented the wheel so that it would be easier to carry/push trading goods around. It was invented in 3500 BCE. The first wheel was called a water wheel, it allowed them to move heavy objects and even water from place to place. A more sofficant wheel was made later on; it was three pieces of wood stuck together with wooden or metal nail like sticks. This invention led to the invention of the chariot, water wheel, cogwheels, and astrolabes for sailors to navigate. |
The Chariot
The chariot was invented to carry people and supplies, usually for war purposes in bringing everyone and everything to the battle field. One of the standard chariots at Ur; the panel with the double-curved top is shown on the side, though it actually represents the front of the chariot. The artist has turned it toward the viewer to show its shape, in the same way that the rein rings are turned sideways to show their details. Modern depictions of Sumerian war chariots sometimes show the panel in front, sometimes on the side, and sometimes both. The panel is actually the front "shield" of the chariot, as illustrated below. Horses or donkeys would pull it usally by one, but sometimes by two.
The chariot was invented to carry people and supplies, usually for war purposes in bringing everyone and everything to the battle field. One of the standard chariots at Ur; the panel with the double-curved top is shown on the side, though it actually represents the front of the chariot. The artist has turned it toward the viewer to show its shape, in the same way that the rein rings are turned sideways to show their details. Modern depictions of Sumerian war chariots sometimes show the panel in front, sometimes on the side, and sometimes both. The panel is actually the front "shield" of the chariot, as illustrated below. Horses or donkeys would pull it usally by one, but sometimes by two.
CuneiformCuneiform is a system of writing first developed by the
ancient Sumerians of Mesopotamia c. 3500-3000 BCE. It is considered the most
significant among the many cultural contributions of the Sumerians and the
greatest among those of the Sumerian city of Uruk which advanced the writing of
cuneiform c. 3200 BCE. The name comes from the Latin word cuneus for 'wedge'
owing to the wedge-shaped style of writing. In cuneiform, a carefully cut
writing implement known as a stylus is pressed into soft clay to produce wedge-like
impressions that represent word-signs (pictographs) and, later, phonograms or
`word-concepts' (closer to a modern day understanding of a `word'). All of the
great Mesopotamian civilizations used cuneiform (the Sumerians, Akkadians,
Babylonians, Elamites, Hatti, Hittites, Assyrians, Hurrians and others) until
it was abandoned in favour of the alphabetic script at some point after 100
BCE. At
the begining of the civilization, cuniform was more pictures and symbols that
actually looked like the things, but eventually it changed to strokes of nail
like things.
The Use of Geometry
Ancient Sumerians used geometry to do many things, such as building temples, roads, houses and even making irrigation and farming fields. Although they only went up to the number 6, they had a really good system. They also used mathematics for taxes, trade, and even for special offerings for the gods. And sometimes when they were at war, which was often, they would use math to out smart their opponents.
Ancient Sumerians used geometry to do many things, such as building temples, roads, houses and even making irrigation and farming fields. Although they only went up to the number 6, they had a really good system. They also used mathematics for taxes, trade, and even for special offerings for the gods. And sometimes when they were at war, which was often, they would use math to out smart their opponents.
Phalanx Formation
The Sumerians were very stratgetically smart and developed the phalanx formation. This formation was set up so that every soilder had each other's back and the opponent couldn't get close enough to kill because of the long spears and body length shields the warriors carried. In the picture to the left, Gilgamesh is leading a group of warriors inot battle. The Kings of the city-states usually are war leaders as well. |
First Lunar Calender
Many ancient civilizations used lunar calenders and use of the stars to tell what season it is, but the Sumerians were the first ones to use the lunar calender. They needed it to get ready for the flooding season. The flooding season in Mesopotamia was unlike the Nile, it would flood so much that all along the coast of the Tigris and Euphrates would be under water. The Sumerians would use dikes, to store water during the flooding season and release the water in the fall when water is scarce.
Many ancient civilizations used lunar calenders and use of the stars to tell what season it is, but the Sumerians were the first ones to use the lunar calender. They needed it to get ready for the flooding season. The flooding season in Mesopotamia was unlike the Nile, it would flood so much that all along the coast of the Tigris and Euphrates would be under water. The Sumerians would use dikes, to store water during the flooding season and release the water in the fall when water is scarce.