Life in Sumer_Pt3

Life in Sumer

Gov't, Writing & Stories

Multiple Choice

Quick Review: Sumerian villages grew into ____________, large walled cities with the surrounding farmland:

• City-States

• Countries

Governments (Gov't)

• Each Sumerian city-state has its own gov't & ruler in the form of a monarch (king)

• Kings of city-states had complete control over all aspects of his city's life.

Governments (Gov't)

• The king hired gov't officials, such as nobles (mostly the king’s family) and priests, to carry out his orders

• The Sumerian gov't was responsible for: making laws, building irrigation systems, & making trade with other Sumerian city-states.

Multiple Choice

True or False: Sumerian City-states were ruled by many people and not by a king.

• True

• False, ruled by a king

Writing

• Sumerians in Meso. created the 1st writing system. We call it cuneiform

• Wrote on clay tablets (paper not invented)

• Use a stick, then press into wet clay to make wedge-shaped symbols

Writing

• Cuneiform actually means "wedge-form" writing

• each symbol represented a syllable of a spoken word

• Those that could read & write were called Scribes

• Not everyone could read or write

Open Ended

Think about it?

What does writing something down allow people to do? How does it help you?

Pay attention to the Video(s)!

https://youtu.be/IteCVkQJMTc

https://youtu.be/KHOnhYCskd0

Open Ended

Identify 1 thing you learned or found interesting about the video:

Writing

• Allowed ppl to record knowledge permanently

• Allowed ppl to keep track of important things

• Allowed ppl to preserve the knowledge they gained/learned

• Allows archaeologists and historians an important source of knowledge about a civilization

Writing for Stories

• Writing was used for more than just record keeping.

• Sumerians wrote the oldest written epic: Epic of Gilgamesh

• Epic = very long poem that tells the story of a legendary or real hero

Writing for Stories

• The epic is about King Gilgamesh, king of Uruk, a city-state

• Gilgamesh is challenged by the gods to prove he is a brave & fearless leader

• He overcomes obstacles and shows his worthiness

Multiple Choice

What is an epic?

• A very long poem that tells a story

• A drawing that tells a story

• A list of rules & laws for people to follow

Multiple Choice

What is the oldest written epic?

• The Epic of Sumer

• The Epic of Gilgamesh

• The Epic of Cuneiform