Ancient Sumer
web page
Section
C: Landuse and
Resources of Ancient Sumer
This is the
SUMER RESOURCES Page
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Ancient Sumer |
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Landscape and Climate - by Elliot & Luke Although the Sumerian country was lush, the surrounding area was desolate. Sumer had mountains to the north and east, and deserts to the west. Sumer was a rich and fertile land, as rivers brought silt from the highlands to the valleys. Sumerian summers were extremely hot and storms blew in from the Persian Gulf. The Two Rivers, Tigris and Euphrates, did not flood at a regular time in Sumer, causing the Sumerians to work hard to control them. |
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Soil and Weather - Ryan & Cameron Mesopotamia was at the eastern end of the Fertile Cresent. The first civilisation started here for reasons that included the availability of water and rich soil. This land had low rainfall, but water was provided by rivers, which flooded at times. The floods had both positive and negative effects on the development of Sumerian civilisation. The flood waters from the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers deposited soil over the plains. The floods sometimes brought destruction, but if they didn't come, famine could occur. |
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Food and resources before Sumer - by Lachlan & Sam Humans originally ate anything they could catch (eg. small animals, birds, insects) and collected roots, berries and fruits from plants. In Mesopotamia, during the New Stone Age (or Neolithic, about 8000-4000BC) before the Sumerians, people had learned to make and use fishing nets, pottery, sleds, planting and harvesting of crops, and the domestication of some animals. |
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Natural Resources - by Luke & Sean The Ancient Sumerians mined gold and other metals. They would trade with or sell to other cities. The people farmed the rich soil of the river plains. Fishing provided an important food source. The people used reeds from along the river for house construction and basket making. |
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Agriculture and Trade - by Conor & Eric As the Sumerians improved their agriculture through domestication of grains and animals and the use of irrigation they produced more food than they needed at a time. They began to trade their extra foods with those they were unable to grow themselves. Their trade was on rivers and seas. Date palms gave them edible fruits and they were able to make wine from dates. The Sumerians exchanged silver for frankincense with sea traders. They used crude oil and asphalt from seeps for many things. Liquid oil was used for wound dressing and liniment to relieve pains. |
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Farming - by Andrew & Paul The Sumerians made a living by raising livestock and growing crops. The dry climate of Sumer promoted the construction of canals to irrigate the fields. Their major crops were barley, wheat, dates and vegetables. The Sumerians also raised and looked after animals like cattle, donkeys, sheep and goats. The sheep's wool was also used to make textiles. |
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Farming and Agriculture - by Daniel & Alex Because most of Mesopotamia was hot and dry, the Sumerians needed a lot of water for themselves and for farming. They built canals that carried water from the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. Because water provided better crops the people could get different jobs and spend time on things other than farming. Sumer was short of stone and metals, so they traded and built inventions to help their farming work. |
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Food and Dining - by Damian & Jonathon Food in Sumer was not only for survival but it became a form of entertainment and hospitality. Most main meals consisted of dried or fresh fish mixed with onion, cucumber, apple, spices, cheese and eggs. Two common drinks were date wine and ale. Wealthy people would have banquets of roasted duck, pork and deer, as well as baked fish. Beautiful gold cups were used for wine, ale or goat's milk. At the end of a banquet, musicians played, women danced and a poet would recite verses about great kingly deeds. |
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Trade - by Ryan Today the cities of ancient Sumerian lie as ruins topped with sand in the desert. But back then rivers ran in different courses to the Persian Gulf. Also, some streams seem to have dried up since then. Long docks were built on the sides of the rivers so that trading ships could unload food, drinks, clothes and various other products. |
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