Sumer (from Akkadian Šumeru; Sumerian 𒆠𒂗𒂠 ki-en-ĝir15, approximately "land of the civilized lords" or "native land") was a civilization and historical region in southern Mesopotamia, modern Iraq during the Chalcolithic and Early Bronze Age. Sumer was first settled between 4500 and 4001 BC by a non-Semitic people who possibly did not speak the Sumerian language (as evidenced by names of cities, rivers, basic occupations, etc.). These people are no...
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Sumer (from Akkadian Šumeru; Sumerian 𒆠𒂗𒂠 ki-en-ĝir15, approximately "land of the civilized lords" or "native land") was a civilization and historical region in southern Mesopotamia, modern Iraq during the Chalcolithic and Early Bronze Age. Sumer was first settled between 4500 and 4001 BC by a non-Semitic people who possibly did not speak the Sumerian language (as evidenced by names of cities, rivers, basic occupations, etc.). These people are now called proto-Euphrateans or Ubaidians, and had evolved from the Samarra culture of northern Mesopotamia. The Ubaidians were the first civilizing force in Sumer, draining the marshes for agriculture, developing trade, and establishing industries, including weaving, leatherwork, metalwork, masonry, and pottery. However, some, such as Piotr Michalowski and Gerd Steiner, contest the idea of a Proto-Euphratean language or one substrate language.
Sumerian civilization took form in the Uruk period (4th millennium BC), continuing into the Jemdat...
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