Lesson 2: Sumer

The first major civilization in Mesopotamia was in a region called Sumer. The Sumerians were able to settle and prosper because they learned how to irrigate the land. By bringing water to the fields, they turned Mesopotamia into a prime agricultural region.

The Sumerians grew several kinds of crops. The most valuable one was barley, which was used to make flour and bread. Dates were also very valuable to the Sumerians. They were eaten once ripe or else they were dried for future consumption. Dates also made an excellent wine. Date trees were also an excellent source of leaves for house thatching, while the wood from the trunk was used for building. Another important crop was the sesame seed. It was used in baking and seasoning, but its real value was as a cooking oil. Other crops were wheat, onions, cucumber and other fruits and vegetables. The Sumerians also raised goats, pigs, sheep, and cattle.

Although agriculture was the chief industry of Sumer, commerce with distant lands also flourished. The Mesopotamian plain was lacking in resources such as metals, timber, stone, and grapevines, so the Sumerians had to trade abroad to get them. Initially, the Sumerians traded surplus barley for these goods. This soon became too expensive and difficult because the sacks of barley were large and heavy. As a result, the Sumerians began to manufacture trading goods that they could transport more easily, such as cloth and bronze ornaments.

Sumer thrived for many centuries, largely because of their advanced irrigation system. However , this irrigation system may have led to the downfall of Sumer. The water diverted from the rivers to irrigate the soil also carried harmful salts and other mineral matter. The soil became more acidic and the crops started to die. Sumer lost its economic strength, which in turn led to a loss of political and military strength. Sumer was soon too weak to fight off invaders and was conquered.

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