7 Characteristics of Civilization
Mesopotamia
Social Class
People in Sumer needed Social Classes because they were to be divided in groups from which they were born. They are divided into three classes. Upper, Middle, and Lower. Kings and Priest are upper. Merchants and fishers are middle. Finally, People who own slaves are lower.
Language
Most countries such as USA and Europe uses language. The Sumers needed language because they needed to communicate. Just imagine how hard it would be if we had a world with no communication. That is like living in a world with no phones. Painful.
Government
Do us citizens of this world knows what the word government means? Yes, some people might think that it is a nation, state, or community. But those people are true. Sumerian government was not like ours today. The government had them divided into social classes. They even made the boys get an education and the girls had to stay home and cook and clean.
Relgion
Thank you Jesus! Some people say that because they are christians. Christianity is a religion. Religion is a particular system of faith and worship. Sumerians used religion, such as polytheism. Believing in more than one God or Gods.
Art
Sumerian art was phenomenal. They had statues, bowls, and even writings on the walls. Sumerian art was used to honor the Gods, plants, and animals. Sumerians began doing art at about 4000 BC. From the picture below, you can see that it looks like they had worked on that for maybe two to three days.
Technology
Technology is very big today. Cell phones, tablets, Mp3 players, all of those things are technology. Sumerian technology was not like computers or phones. Their definition of technology was things to build stuff. Such as knifes and sticks. Do we all know what the wheel has come from? Yes we might think that the wheel comes from a mechanic, but actually it came from Sumerians. The used the wheel to build sculptures and toys for kids.
Surplus
Surplus in Sumerian time was kind of hard. Surplus is the amount of food left over. Since Sumerians had to grow crops, surplus was a big break for them. Surplus was helpful for them because it was just food, they didn't need to grow it and wait for weeks.