Governed through irrigated agriculture, a temple (ziggurat) economy, and cuneiform writing, these cities were organized around rule by a king (lugal/ensi), bureaucracy, and specialized crafts. As pioneers of writing, the wheel, the potter's wheel, and the legal tradition, the Sumerians established the first urban civilization.
Related civilizations
Frequently asked questions
- What was Rise of Sumerian City-States?
- In the 4th millennium BCE, Sumerian city-states such as Uruk, Ur, Eridu, and Lagash arose in southern Mesopotamia.
- When did Rise of Sumerian City-States happen?
- 4000 BCE
- Where did Rise of Sumerian City-States take place?
- Uruk, Mezopotamya