Introducing 

Prezi AI.

Your new presentation assistant.

Refine, enhance, and tailor your content, source relevant images, and edit visuals quicker than ever before.

Loading…
Transcript

Ancient Sumer

Mariam Ismail

The definition of a civilization and four examples of the characteristics of a civilization

The definition of a civilization and four examples of the characteristics of civilization.

A civilization is well organized and complex human society that often has a specific culture or way of life.

4 examples of the characteristics of civilization are.

  • Technology
  • Arts and Architecture
  • Written Language
  • Trade

Historical Context

Ancient Sumerians lived in Mesopotamia between the Euphrates and the Tigris river. The Sumerians lived from ~5400 B.C.E to ~1700 B.C.E

Historical Context.

Innovation 1: Cuneiform Writing

Innovation 1

What is cuneiform writing?

What is Cuneiform writing?

Cuneiform is one of the earliest highly developed written languages created by the ancient Sumerians .It was used to record information on goods they traded with each other. Cuneiform was originally based on pictographs which were drawings that had different meanings. Scribes eventually started drawing pictographs with a series of simpler lines. They would write with pointed reeds that were known as a stylus which they used to carve their writing in pieces of wet clay , at the end of their sentences they would press the corner of the stylus into the clay which made a wedge/triangle shape. Because of the shape it made nineteenth-century scholars named it cuneiform writing meaning wedge shaped writing.

What characteristics of civilization does cuneiform writing connect to?

Cuneiform writing conects to written language and trade.

How does cuneiform writing connect to the characteristics of civilizations?

  • Cuneiform writing connect to written language because it was the earliest highly developed written languages.
  • Cuneiform writing connects to trade because it was developed to record information on goods that they had traded.

What impact did cuneiform writing have on the people or the environment?

  • Cuneiform made things more efficient and quicker to write down instead of using pictographs.
  • Cuneiform writing helped people remember any debts they may have owed and people they traded with which would make less conflict and more efficient trade.

What is the impact cuneiform writing had on people or the environment?

Innovation 2: The Arch

Innovation 2

What is the Arch?

What is the arch?

The Sumerian arches were inverted U - or V - shaped openings built above doorways. The arches were made out of bricks that would be stacked on top of each other until they met in the middle.The bricks were made by mixing river clay with straw and pressing it into a mold, they would then bake the bricks in the sun or in an oven, eventually in 3000 B.C.E builders made special brick molds that made the bricks fit together better. Arches aloud builders to create bigger openings above doorways then the single piece of wood they used before.Arches started of being built only above tombs, they later started building more elaborate arches over bridges, temple entrances and the homes of wealthy people.Arches enhanced the artistic quality and added both strength and beauty to Sumerian Architecture.

What characteristics of civilization does the arch connect to?

The arch connects to arts and architecture and technology.

  • The arch connects to arts and architecture because archeologists consider the arch the Sumerians greatest architectural achievements.
  • The arch indirectly connects to technology because in order for it to be built they had to find a way to make bricks.They also eventually made brick molds so that the bricks are more uniform and fit together better .

How does the arch connect to the characteristics of civilization?

What impact did the arch have on people or the envoronment?

  • The arch impacted people by giving builders the ability to build larger openings over doorways.
  • The arch also impacted the way people would view each other because eventually arches were built over the doorways of wealthier people as well as bridges and temples, meaning if someone had an arch over their doorway people would know that they may be wealth.y

What impact did the arch have on people or the environment?

Sources

  • History Alive! 5.9 writing Cuneiform writing, by TCI Publishing, 2004
  • History Alive! 5.8 technology the arch, by TCI Publishing, 2004

Sources

Learn more about creating dynamic, engaging presentations with Prezi