Sumer & Akkad: Notable Places

Mesopotamia/Fertile Crescent (Fact 1)

Area of land that stretches from south of the Mediterranean in Egypt around Saudi Arabia as far north as Turkey and south as the Persian Gulf east of Saudi Arabia to Southern Iraq

Mesopotamia/Fertile Crescent (Fact 2)

Literally translated as "between two rivers", it is characterized by its two prominent rivers in the region, the Tigris and the Euphrates, which provide for rich soil in the rather flat lands that make up the region and makes it ideal for growing crops such as wheat and barley

Eridu (Fact 1)

Sumerian village that emerged as early as 10,000 years ago, near where the Persian Gulf is today; one of (if not) the first Sumerian/Mesopotamian villages ever and the one known most about

Eridu (Fact 2)

Sumerian village whose patron deity was Enki, its inhabitants are believed to have offered fish sacrifices to Enki in the local temple, a building which would eventually develop into the first Ziggurat

Eridu (Fact 3)

Sumerian village that eventually developed into a city and is characterized by its inhabitants coming from all different regions making donations to the temple in exchange for local goods

Eridu (Fact 4)

Sumerian village that eventually developed into a town and is characterized by its inhabitants trading and making tools out of Copper and Obsidian for the first time

Uruk (Fact 1)

First Sumerian city (due to its relatively large population size and population growth rate at the time) that emerged around 5,500 years ago and witnessed the integration of peoples from elsewhere with the existing Ubaid culture to make the new Sumerian culture and thus was the first truly Sumerian city

Uruk (Fact 2)

First Sumerian city characterized by being the place of mass-production of pottery and textiles for the first time whereupon such tasks were first taken up by private homeowners for private purposes and who emphasized aesthetics over function but essentially evolved to the artisans and craftsmen producing the items for public purposes and who emphasized function over aesthetics

Uruk (Fact 3)

First Sumerian city whose patron deity was Inanna

Nippur (Fact 1)

Sumerian city whose patron deity was Enlil

Larsa (Fact 1)

Sumerian city whose patron deity was Utu

Ur (Fact 1)

Sumerian city whose patron deity was Nanna

Lagash (Fact 1)

Sumerian city whose patron deity was Ningirsu