Around 5,500 BCE, the Sumerians started out as nomadic people who settled down along the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. Since their civilization was on the fertile crescent, growing crops easy. Access to fresh water was also had huge impact for both irrigation, trade and even drinking. The Sumerian civilization emerged upon the flood plain of the lower reaches of the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers about 5,000 B.C. The social structure of the Sumerians was decidedly different from other societies of that and later times.
5,000 BCE Early development of Sumer. The Sumer form the
first towns and cities. They use irrigation to farm large areas of land
4,500 BCE The city-state of Uruk is founded.
4,000 BCE High civilization developing. The Sumerians establish powerful city-states building large ziggurats at the center of their cities as temples to their gods.
3,500 BCE Much of lower Mesopotamia is inhabited by numerous Sumerian city-states, such as Ur, Uruk (also known as Urk), Eridu, Kish, Lagash, and Nippur. Religion is major at this time.
3,300 BCE The Sumerians invent the first writing, cuneiform. They use pictures and symbols for words and inscribe them in clay.
3,200 BCE The Sumerians begin to use the wheel on vehicles, such as wagons.
3,000 BCE Sumerians start to use political and military rivalries. The Sumerians start to implement mathematics using a number system with the base of 60. Sumerian civilization uses gold in jewelry and manufacture.
2,750 BCE Legendary Gilgamesh rules Uruk, Enmebaragesi and Agga rule Kish.
2,700 BCE Sumerians famous Sumerian King Gilgamesh rules the city-state of Ur. Hatti people establish a trade with the Sumerians.
2,600 BCE Royal graves of Ur are made.
2,550 BCE Mesalim rules Kish.
2,475 BCE Ur-Nanshe rules Lagash, Meskalamdug rules Ur, military conflict between Lagash and Umma continues a long time.
2,400 BCE Sumerian language is replaced by the Akkadian language as the primary spoken language in Mesopotamia.
2,350 BCE Sargon of Agade defeats Umma and takes over Sumer and Akkad, and creates significant political and economic empire. He will rule for 56 years.
2,250 BCE King Narm-Sin of Akkadians expands the empire to its largest state. He will rule for 50 years.
2,230 BCE Gutian invasion disrupts unity of Sumer and Akkad
2,175 BCE Gudea rules Lagash
2,218 BCE Epic of Gilgamesh is written on clay tablets.
2,110 BCE Ur-Mammu of Ur unifies Sumer and Akkad.
2,100 BCE After the Akkadian Empire crumbles, the Sumerians once again gain power. The city of Ur is rebuilt. The reign of Utu-Hegal at Uruk in Sumer and creation of the Sumerian King List.
2,055 BCE Utu Hegel’s reign over Sumer and Akkad.
2,047 BCE Ur III period of Sumer, the renaissance period. Ur-Nammu’s reign over Sumer. Great wall of Uruk still standing.
2,038 BCE King Shulgi of Ur builds his great wall in Sumer.
2,030 BCE Elamites disrupt unity of Sumer and Akkad. Ur-Nammu is killed in battle.
2,020 BCE Ishbi-Erra the Amorite ruler of Isin seeks to rebuild unity in the land.
2,000 BCE Elamites capture Ur.
1.990 BCE Construction of the Great Wall to keep the Amorites from Sumer.
1,900 BCE The Assyrians rise to power in Northern Mesopotamia.
1,795 BCE Rim-Sin of Larsa defeats Isin seeks to rebuild unity in the land.
1,792 BCE Hammurabi becomes king of Babylon. He establishes the Code of Hammurabi and Babylon soon takes over much of Mesopotamia.
1,781 BCE King Shamshi-Adad of the Assyrians dies. The first Assyrian Empire is soon taken over by the Babylonians.
1,760 BCE Hammurabi of Babylon defeats Larsa and takes over Sumer and Akkad.
1,750 BCE Hammurabi dies and the first Babylonian Empire begins to fall apart.
1,720 BCE Shift of Euphrates River causes the collapse of life in Nippur and some other cities of Sumer
1,595 BCE Hittite raid disrupts unity of Sumer and Akkad.
1,120 BCE The Sumerian Enuma Elish (creation story) is written.
4,500 BCE The city-state of Uruk is founded.
4,000 BCE High civilization developing. The Sumerians establish powerful city-states building large ziggurats at the center of their cities as temples to their gods.
3,500 BCE Much of lower Mesopotamia is inhabited by numerous Sumerian city-states, such as Ur, Uruk (also known as Urk), Eridu, Kish, Lagash, and Nippur. Religion is major at this time.
3,300 BCE The Sumerians invent the first writing, cuneiform. They use pictures and symbols for words and inscribe them in clay.
3,200 BCE The Sumerians begin to use the wheel on vehicles, such as wagons.
3,000 BCE Sumerians start to use political and military rivalries. The Sumerians start to implement mathematics using a number system with the base of 60. Sumerian civilization uses gold in jewelry and manufacture.
2,750 BCE Legendary Gilgamesh rules Uruk, Enmebaragesi and Agga rule Kish.
2,700 BCE Sumerians famous Sumerian King Gilgamesh rules the city-state of Ur. Hatti people establish a trade with the Sumerians.
2,600 BCE Royal graves of Ur are made.
2,550 BCE Mesalim rules Kish.
2,475 BCE Ur-Nanshe rules Lagash, Meskalamdug rules Ur, military conflict between Lagash and Umma continues a long time.
2,400 BCE Sumerian language is replaced by the Akkadian language as the primary spoken language in Mesopotamia.
2,350 BCE Sargon of Agade defeats Umma and takes over Sumer and Akkad, and creates significant political and economic empire. He will rule for 56 years.
2,250 BCE King Narm-Sin of Akkadians expands the empire to its largest state. He will rule for 50 years.
2,230 BCE Gutian invasion disrupts unity of Sumer and Akkad
2,175 BCE Gudea rules Lagash
2,218 BCE Epic of Gilgamesh is written on clay tablets.
2,110 BCE Ur-Mammu of Ur unifies Sumer and Akkad.
2,100 BCE After the Akkadian Empire crumbles, the Sumerians once again gain power. The city of Ur is rebuilt. The reign of Utu-Hegal at Uruk in Sumer and creation of the Sumerian King List.
2,055 BCE Utu Hegel’s reign over Sumer and Akkad.
2,047 BCE Ur III period of Sumer, the renaissance period. Ur-Nammu’s reign over Sumer. Great wall of Uruk still standing.
2,038 BCE King Shulgi of Ur builds his great wall in Sumer.
2,030 BCE Elamites disrupt unity of Sumer and Akkad. Ur-Nammu is killed in battle.
2,020 BCE Ishbi-Erra the Amorite ruler of Isin seeks to rebuild unity in the land.
2,000 BCE Elamites capture Ur.
1.990 BCE Construction of the Great Wall to keep the Amorites from Sumer.
1,900 BCE The Assyrians rise to power in Northern Mesopotamia.
1,795 BCE Rim-Sin of Larsa defeats Isin seeks to rebuild unity in the land.
1,792 BCE Hammurabi becomes king of Babylon. He establishes the Code of Hammurabi and Babylon soon takes over much of Mesopotamia.
1,781 BCE King Shamshi-Adad of the Assyrians dies. The first Assyrian Empire is soon taken over by the Babylonians.
1,760 BCE Hammurabi of Babylon defeats Larsa and takes over Sumer and Akkad.
1,750 BCE Hammurabi dies and the first Babylonian Empire begins to fall apart.
1,720 BCE Shift of Euphrates River causes the collapse of life in Nippur and some other cities of Sumer
1,595 BCE Hittite raid disrupts unity of Sumer and Akkad.
1,120 BCE The Sumerian Enuma Elish (creation story) is written.