CASE STUDY 19
MAIN IDEA WHY IT MATTERS NOW TERMS & NAMES
Civilization
3
CASE STUDY: Ur in Sumer
SETTING THE STAGE Agriculture marked a dramatic change in how people
lived together. They began dwelling in larger, more organized communities, such
as farming villages and towns. From some of these settlements, cities gradually
emerged, forming the backdrop of a more complex way of life—civilization.
Villages Grow into Cities
Over the centuries, people settled in stable communities that were based on agri-
culture. Domesticated animals became more common. The invention of new
tools—hoes, sickles, and plow sticks—made the task of farming easier. As peo-
ple gradually developed the technology to control their natural environment, they
reaped larger harvests. Settlements with a plentiful supply of food could support
larger populations.
As the population of some early farming villages increased, social relation-
ships became more complicated. The change from a nomadic hunting-gathering
way of life to settled village life took a long time. Likewise, the change from vil-
lage life to city life was a gradual process that spanned several generations.
Economic Changes To cultivate more land and to produce extra crops, ancient
people in larger villages built elaborate irrigation systems. The resulting food
surpluses freed some villagers to pursue other jobs and to develop skills besides
farming. Individuals who learned to become craftspeople created valuable new
products, such as pottery, metal objects, and woven cloth. In turn, people who
became traders profited from a broader range of goods to exchange—craftwork,
grains, and many raw materials. Two important inventions—the wheel and the
sail—also enabled traders to move more goods over longer distances.
Social Changes A more complex and prosperous economy affected the social
structure of village life. For example, building and operating large irrigation sys-
tems required the labor of many people. As other special groups of workers
formed, social classes with varying wealth, power, and influence began to emerge.
A system of social classes would become more clearly defined as cities grew.
Religion also became more organized. During the Old Stone Age, prehistoric
people’s religious beliefs centered around nature, animal spirits, and some idea of
an afterlife. During the New Stone Age, farming peoples worshiped the many gods
and goddesses who they believed had power over the rain, wind, and other forces of
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Prosperous farming villages,
food surpluses, and new
technology led to the rise of
civilizations.
Contemporary civilizations share
the same characteristics typical
of ancient civilizations.
• civilization
• specialization
• artisan
• institution
• scribe
• cuneiform
• Bronze Age
• barter
• ziggurat
Summarizing Use a chart 
to summarize characteristics
of the civilization at Sumer.
TAKING NOTES
Characteristics
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