Sumer was the southernmost region of ancient Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq and Kuwait) which is generally considered the cradle of civilization. The name comes from Akkadian, the language of the north of Mesopotamia, and means “land of the civilized kings.” Sumer is recognized as the birthplace of many of the "firsts" of civilization, including writing.
More about: Sumer8 days left
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Definition
Timeline
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6000 BCE - 1750 BCESumerian civilization in the Tigris-Euphrates valley.
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c. 5400 BCEThe City of Eridu is founded.
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c. 5000 BCEGodin Tepe settled.
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c. 5000 BCESumer inhabited by Ubaid people.
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c. 5000 BCE - 4100 BCEThe Ubaid Period in Sumer.
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c. 5000 BCEEvidence of burial in Sumer.
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c. 4500 BCEThe City of Uruk founded.
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c. 4500 BCEThe Sumerians built their first temple.
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4100 BCE - 2900 BCEUruk Period in Sumer.
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c. 3600 BCEInvention of writing in Sumer at Uruk.
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c. 3200 BCEFirst instance of written language in Sumerian.
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2900 BCE - 2334 BCEThe Early Dynastic Period in Sumer.
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c. 2600 BCE - c. 2000 BCEThe Royal Graves of Ur used in Sumer.
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2500 BCEFirst Dynasty of Lagash under King Eannutum is first empire in Mesopotamia.
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c. 2500 BCEBeginning of literature in Sumerian.
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2350 BCEFirst code of laws by Urukagina, king of Lagash.
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2218 BCE - 2047 BCEThe Gutian Period in Sumer.
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c. 2150 BCE - c. 1400 BCEThe tales of Gilgamesh written which inform The Epic of Gilgamesh
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2100 BCEThe Reign of Utu-Hegal at Uruk in Sumer and creation of Sumerian King List.
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c. 2055 BCE - 2047 BCEUtu Hegal's reign over Sumerian and Akkadian cities.
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2047 BCE - 1750 BCEThe Ur III Period in Sumer, known as the Sumerian Renaissance.
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2047 BCE - 1750 BCEThe Ur III Period in Sumer. Great Wall of Uruk still standing.
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2047 BCE - 2030 BCEUr-Nammu's reign over Sumer.
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c. 2038 BCEKing Shulgi of Ur builds his great wall in Sumer.
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c. 1772 BCEThe Code of Hammurabi: One of the earliest codes of law in the world.
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1750 BCEElamite invasion and Amorite migration ends the Sumerian civilization.
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c. 1120 BCEExtant copy of the Sumerian Enuma Elish (creation story) is made from much older text.
