Sumer
One of the world’s earliest civilizations, emerging in southern Mesopotamia around 4500–1900 BCE.
Known for city-states like Ur and Uruk, the invention of cuneiform writing, and major advances in law, math, and architecture.
Developed irrigation, trade networks, and religious temples (ziggurats) that shaped later Mesopotamian cultures.
Periods & Dynasties
Sumer was the earliest known civilization in Mesopotamia, located in southern Iraq. It developed the first cities, writing, schools, kingship, laws, and large-scale agriculture.
Sumerian history is divided into several major periods and dynasties.
Ubaid Period
The Pre-Sumerian Foundation
Akkadian Conquest
Sumer conquered by Sargon of Akkad, forming the first empire.
Uruk Period
Birth of Cities & Writing
Neo-Sumerian Period — Third Dynasty of Ur
Creation of a centralized bureaucratic state.
Early Dynastic Period
The Age of City-States and Kings
Decline and Amorite Period
Sumer weakened by Elamite invasion and Amorite migrations.