The Sumerians

The Sumerians lived more than 5,000 years ago. Their home was in a place called Mesopotamia, which is now Iraq. They built some of the first cities in the world. The Sumerians are famous for inventing writing and many other amazing things.

The First Cities

The Sumerians lived between two rivers called the Tigris and Euphrates. They built big cities like Ur and Uruk. Each city had tall temples called ziggurats that looked like stepped pyramids. Farmers grew wheat and barley in the rich soil. Thousands of people lived and worked in each city.

Amazing Inventions

The Sumerians invented many things we still use. They created a way of writing called cuneiform by pressing marks into wet clay. They also invented the wheel, the plow, and sailboats. They made one of the first number systems based on the number 60. That is why we have 60 seconds in a minute.

Fun Facts

• Cuneiform is one of the oldest forms of writing ever found.
• The Sumerians told a famous story called the Epic of Gilgamesh.
• They divided the day into hours like we do today.

Did You Know?

The Sumerians wrote on clay tablets that hardened in the sun, and many still exist today after thousands of years.