1. Writing System: Cuneiform
- Sumerians developed cuneiform, one of the earliest known systems of writing. It used wedge-shaped marks pressed into clay tablets. Cuneiform was adopted and adapted by other civilizations in Mesopotamia and beyond.
2. The Wheel and Wheeled Vehicles
- The Sumerians were among the first to develop the wheel and its application in wheeled vehicles. These advancements transformed transportation and trade.
3. City-States and Administration
- They pioneered the concept of city-states, with centers like Ur, Uruk, and Kish. These city-states had organized systems of government, law, and administration.
4. The Sail
- Sumerians invented the sail and incorporated it into their boats, enabling them to navigate rivers and seas.
5. Temples and Ziggurats
- They constructed impressive temple complexes, including ziggurats, massive stepped pyramids often serving as religious and administrative centers.
6. Mathematics
- Sumerians made significant contributions to mathematics. They developed a sexagesimal system based on 60, which influenced later mathematical and astronomical practices.
7. Astronomy
- They tracked celestial bodies and made astronomical observations. Sumerians identified constellations, the zodiac signs, and the concept of a year divided into 12 months.
8. Literature
- Sumerians created epic poems and tales, such as the Epic of Gilgamesh, which is considered one of the earliest known works of literature.
9. Music
- Sumerians developed various musical instruments, including stringed instruments, drums, and lyres.
10. Irrigation and Water Management
- They developed sophisticated systems of canals and irrigation techniques to increase agricultural production.
11. Medicine
- Sumerian medicine involved empirical practices and the development of remedies, diagnoses, and surgical procedures.
12. Trade and Accounting
- Their city-states engaged in trade and established bookkeeping practices to record transactions.
These inventions and contributions of the Sumerians laid the foundation for subsequent civilizations and played a significant role in the development of human society.