Sumer
The Tigris-Euphrates river valley,
sometimes referred to as the Fertile Crescent or Mesopotamia ("Land Between the
Rivers"), is an area that has supported numerous civilizations throughout
history. One of the earliest civilizations with written evidence is that of the
Sumerians. Arriving in the Tigris-Euphrates valley from Central Asia in
approximately 3500 BC, the Sumerians pervaded the existing settlements of the
Ubaidians, of whom little is known, in southern Mesopotamia. Taking control of
the land and its resources, these individuals developed a complex civilization
that would live on to influence later civilizations.
Within the southern section of Mesopotamia, which
came to be known as Sumer (hence Sumerians),
regional city-states developed. Each of these city-states was ruled by a king
whose authority dictated the construction of buildings and temples, maintenance
of irrigation systems, deliberation of justice, and formation and amendment of
trade and defense policies. Initially, these kings were elected officials, but
their positions eventually became hereditary.
Because Sumer was a region of numerous
city-states, tension and conflict among the states was frequent. Often, these
conflicts arose over rights to water and land, and it was common for one
city-state to attempt to gain complete control over a neighboring city-state.
Such internal dissension allowed for the region to be conquered by King Sargon
of Akkad. In 2000 BC, the area was invaded and came under Babylonian
control.
Links:
http://www.eliki.com/ancient/civilizations/
http://www.mesopotamia.co.uk/
Sources:
Tom B. Jones, "Sumer," Grolier Electronic
Encyclopedia, 1993; Samuel Noah Kramer, Cradle of Civilization, New
York: Time Incorporated, 1969; World History, Volume One, St. Paul, MN:
West Publishing Company, 1991;
http://www.ee.ucl.ac.uk/~lheagney/mesopotamia/SUMER.html