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Sumer Civilization

-Located between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers

-Provided water and fertile soil for farming

-Few natural borders, surrounded by desert

-Included many independent city-states

Achievements of the Sumer Civilization

1. Wheel – invented the first wheel
2. Cuneiform – earliest form of writing
3. Architecture – Ziggurats (Temples in center of city)
4. Mathematics – Algebra, Geometry, number system based on #60 and the number 0
5. Arch – invented by Sumerians, perfected by Romans
6. Astronomy – allowed them to create an accurate calendar

Religion of the Sumer Civilization  

1. Polytheistic – Worship of many different gods – Gods controlled all aspects of life   
2. Chief Belief – Life after death
3. Ruler is seen as a god and is considered the chief religious leader
4. Ziggurats (temples) at the center of every city

Achievements of later Civilizations in the Area

1.      Babylonian Empire – Hummurabi’s Code – worlds first written code of laws

2.      Assyrian Empire – Assurbanipal – One of the world’s first libraries

3.      2^nd Babylonian Empire – Nebuchadnezzar ordered the building of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon

4.      Hittites – Invented Iron making – harder and stronger than bronze and iron ore more readily available

5.      Phoenicians – Developed the worlds first alphabet – basis for our alphabet today

6.      Lydians – Developed 1^st coins

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