Sumer is important in world history because it was:
the world's first civilization.
where human beings evolved.
where the first fishing villages developed.
the world's largest empire.
The correct answer is:
Sumer is important in world history because it was the world's first civilization.
Sumer is important in world history because it was:
1. The world's first civilization: Sumer, located in Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq), is widely recognized as the birthplace of the world's first civilization. It emerged around 4000 BCE and laid the foundation for many aspects of human civilization, including advancements in agriculture, writing, trade, and the development of complex social structures.
2. Where human beings evolved: While Sumer played a crucial role in early civilization, it is not the place where human beings evolved. The evolution of Homo sapiens occurred much earlier in Africa, approximately 200,000 years ago, before their migration and eventual settlement in different parts of the world, including Mesopotamia.
3. Where the first fishing villages developed: Archaeological evidence suggests that fishing villages, which played a significant role in the development of early human societies, existed in different parts of the world, including areas outside of Sumer. Although Sumer had access to water sources like rivers, it is not specifically recognized as the birthplace of the first fishing villages.
4. The world's largest empire: Sumer did not have the distinction of being the world's largest empire. Empires like the Achaemenid Empire, Roman Empire, Mongol Empire, and the British Empire, among others, held this title at various points in history. Sumer, while being an important civilization, existed as a collection of city-states rather than a centralized empire.
Sumer is important in world history because it was the world's first civilization. To understand why Sumer was chosen as the answer, let's break down the other options and explain their significance:
1. Evolving human beings: Sumer is not directly associated with the evolution of human beings. Human evolution took place over a much longer period of time in various regions of the world.
2. First fishing villages: While Sumer did develop agriculture and irrigation systems, it is not specifically known for the first fishing villages. Fishing villages existed in different parts of the world long before Sumer's establishment.
3. World's largest empire: Sumer did not have the world's largest empire. Empires such as the Roman Empire, Mongol Empire, and British Empire emerged much later in history and had significantly larger territories and population under their control.
Now, let's focus on why Sumer is recognized as the world's first civilization:
Sumer was located in Mesopotamia, the region between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers in modern-day Iraq. Around 4500 BCE, the people of Sumer began to settle in river valleys, primarily due to the fertile land and the availability of water for agriculture.
The Sumerians developed advanced city-states with organized governments, complex economies, social hierarchies, legal systems, and religious beliefs. They invented writing (cuneiform script) as a way to keep records, which greatly contributed to the advancement of human communication and documentation.
Furthermore, Sumerians were known for their monumental architecture, including the construction of temples called ziggurats. They also had a rich cultural and artistic heritage, evident in their sculptures, pottery, and intricate jewelry.
Overall, Sumer's contributions in various fields, such as governance, writing, architecture, and art, laid the foundation for later civilizations and shaped the course of human history, making it the world's first recognized civilization.