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The Sumerians
In this book Professor Woolley, one of the world's foremost archaeologists, shows quite clearly that when Egyptian civilization began the civilization of the Sumerians had already flourished for at least 2,000 years.
The idea that Egypt was the earliest civilization has been entirely exploded. The Sumerians had reached a very high level of culture by 3500 B.C.E., and may be said with some justice to be the forerunners of all the Old World civilizations of Egypt, Assyria, Asia Minor, Crete, and Greece. This book will appeal to everyone interested in the early history of humankind.
The idea that Egypt was the earliest civilization has been entirely exploded. The Sumerians had reached a very high level of culture by 3500 B.C.E., and may be said with some justice to be the forerunners of all the Old World civilizations of Egypt, Assyria, Asia Minor, Crete, and Greece. This book will appeal to everyone interested in the early history of humankind.
198 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1928
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253 people want to read
About the author
C. Leonard Woolley
150 books15 followersSir Charles Leonard Woolley was a British archaeologist best known for his excavations at Ur in Mesopotamia. He is considered to have been one of the first "modern" archaeologists, and was knighted in 1935 for his contributions to the discipline of archaeology.
He was married to Katharine Woolley who worked as the illustrator for his excavations.
He was married to Katharine Woolley who worked as the illustrator for his excavations.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
July 27, 2012
I've long been fascinated by Sumer, "Land Between the Two Rivers," in what is now modern-day Iraq. It is possibly the world's oldest civilization, with the earliest form of writing, some of the oldest cities, and earliest uses of agriculture. Sumerian literature and legal codes might be the source for much of Hebrew scripture, such as the Creation and Flood narratives. Recently, when I was reading a book of women poets, I learned that Princess En-khedu-anna of Sumer, a priestess and poet, (briefly mentioned in Woolley's book) has been accredited as the first author we know by name.
So obviously Sumer has a unique fascination as a root for human civilization. Yet I found little in bookstores--this seemed the one book I could find actually focused on Sumer. There is no introduction to this book, and no clue on the back cover as to date, and the title page says only that this edition was first published in 1965. I was disappointed to find out online this was first published in 1929. (It's age was particularly evident in how the book treats "race" and "decadence.") Unfortunately, looking at the books tagged "Sumer" on Librarything I can't find a book much more recent or authoritative--the only books higher on the list are apparently 50 years old.
Woolley, on the other hand, at least can be said to have known his stuff. He led the excavation of Ur of the Chaldees that established it was 3,500 years old, rivaling ancient Egypt in antiquity. I'm not sorry I bought the book and have decided to keep it on my bookshelves. It's loaded with maps and illustrations and there are tantalizing details, such as the existence of a woman ruler, Ku-Bau (Kubaba) of Kish on the Sumerian king-lists and the fascinating figure of Sargon of Akkad, with a claim to have ruled the first empire. Wooley points out that the Sumerians had such features of architecture as the arch, the vault, the dome that wouldn't be seen in the West for thousands of years. And many of the details of Sumerian society, however dryly presented, were intriguing. So, although I was at times frustrated not to have a more current book, still I think worth a read if you're interested in this ancient civilization, and this did whet my appetite for more. And if anyone has any suggestions on what to read next about these fascinating people, I'd sure be open to suggestions.
So obviously Sumer has a unique fascination as a root for human civilization. Yet I found little in bookstores--this seemed the one book I could find actually focused on Sumer. There is no introduction to this book, and no clue on the back cover as to date, and the title page says only that this edition was first published in 1965. I was disappointed to find out online this was first published in 1929. (It's age was particularly evident in how the book treats "race" and "decadence.") Unfortunately, looking at the books tagged "Sumer" on Librarything I can't find a book much more recent or authoritative--the only books higher on the list are apparently 50 years old.
Woolley, on the other hand, at least can be said to have known his stuff. He led the excavation of Ur of the Chaldees that established it was 3,500 years old, rivaling ancient Egypt in antiquity. I'm not sorry I bought the book and have decided to keep it on my bookshelves. It's loaded with maps and illustrations and there are tantalizing details, such as the existence of a woman ruler, Ku-Bau (Kubaba) of Kish on the Sumerian king-lists and the fascinating figure of Sargon of Akkad, with a claim to have ruled the first empire. Wooley points out that the Sumerians had such features of architecture as the arch, the vault, the dome that wouldn't be seen in the West for thousands of years. And many of the details of Sumerian society, however dryly presented, were intriguing. So, although I was at times frustrated not to have a more current book, still I think worth a read if you're interested in this ancient civilization, and this did whet my appetite for more. And if anyone has any suggestions on what to read next about these fascinating people, I'd sure be open to suggestions.
March 8, 2015
Where did this all start? Where did we come from? Faith traditions often seek to answer such questions. Secular archaeology and sociology approach a similar data set from a different context. They often have strange, fascinating intersections. Woolley's scholarly text on the history and culture of ancient Sumer is one of these tantalizing intersections. To anyone interested in ancient history in general, and for anyone interested in the genesis of really any Western spiritual tradition from Zoroastrianism to Islam, Judaism, Christianity, and even the Latter-Day Saints, this book matters! Though it's primarily a book on archaeology, lest you be warned away by my zeal. Did I mention that Gilgamesh was a Sumerian epic?
The Sumerians arise in the mists of "The Beginning." For Western Archaeology, when we speak of the "cradles" of civilization, we're speaking about the rise of writing, cities, agriculture, that which we know about, in the so-called fertile crescent running from the valley of the Nile, to the valleys of the Tigris and Euphrates to the head of the Persian Gulf in the 3rd millennia BCE. The Indus valley cultures could also be included. See the wikipedia entry (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cradle_o...) for a great gloss. As far as we currently know, the Sumerians developed a written language first. They somewhat mysteriously arrived in the delta country at the head of the gulf in that distant millennium with an already developed copper-working level of technology, with potter's wheels, with stereotyped artistic patterns, with grave rituals and construction techniques (including the Arch, which would be unknown in the West until the first millennium BCE) and lists of mythic kings dating back tens of thousands of years before this, before their tale of a Flood... They warred and they built, they commanded a vast trading empire before really anyone else was able to write about it. We don't know for sure where they came from, where they developed their technology, who they were ethnically. We do know, according to Woolley, that their high level of civilization, their ancient cities of Ur, Uruk, Eridu, Kish, may well predate the Indus cultures, the Egyptian cultures on the Nile, and perhaps the Yellow River cultures in China.
Woolley's argument doesn't stop with the antiquity of the people: he goes on to suggest that the indigenous peoples of the fertile crescent, called by him "Semitic" (the Akkadians, the Amorites, the Elamites, the proto-Babylonians at Susa) learned their culture from the Sumerians, and altered it surprisingly little, despite the eventual overthrow of Sumer by these very people. When Hammurabi formulates his famous legal code 2000 years later, it is based on Sumerian precedent, and not arising de novo... The gods of Sumer became the Gods of Babylon and perhaps even influenced the religions of ancient Egypt. He traces a line from Sumer, to Assyria, to Babylon, to Greece, to Rome: you can see where I'm going with this... Woolley seems to be a reputable person to be making such arguments: he was the adventurer/archaeologist who excavated Ur beginning in 1922 and restored the Ziggurat there... His biography on Wikipedia reads like an Indiana Jones movie. No amateur, he was considered the 20th century's foremost authority on ancient Sumer. His book blew the doors of my mind wide. Tales of the Flood; tales of Abraham's ancient home in Ur... Woolley, a secular archaeologist doesn't shy away from such linkages - he dives into them, drawing parallels between the Old Testament record and the archaeological record regularly. Really I can't say enough about this sometimes heavy, but utterly fascinating read. And if you want to hear what I think about how this all fits with the Book of Abraham, you have but to ask...
Final Grade: A
The Sumerians arise in the mists of "The Beginning." For Western Archaeology, when we speak of the "cradles" of civilization, we're speaking about the rise of writing, cities, agriculture, that which we know about, in the so-called fertile crescent running from the valley of the Nile, to the valleys of the Tigris and Euphrates to the head of the Persian Gulf in the 3rd millennia BCE. The Indus valley cultures could also be included. See the wikipedia entry (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cradle_o...) for a great gloss. As far as we currently know, the Sumerians developed a written language first. They somewhat mysteriously arrived in the delta country at the head of the gulf in that distant millennium with an already developed copper-working level of technology, with potter's wheels, with stereotyped artistic patterns, with grave rituals and construction techniques (including the Arch, which would be unknown in the West until the first millennium BCE) and lists of mythic kings dating back tens of thousands of years before this, before their tale of a Flood... They warred and they built, they commanded a vast trading empire before really anyone else was able to write about it. We don't know for sure where they came from, where they developed their technology, who they were ethnically. We do know, according to Woolley, that their high level of civilization, their ancient cities of Ur, Uruk, Eridu, Kish, may well predate the Indus cultures, the Egyptian cultures on the Nile, and perhaps the Yellow River cultures in China.
Woolley's argument doesn't stop with the antiquity of the people: he goes on to suggest that the indigenous peoples of the fertile crescent, called by him "Semitic" (the Akkadians, the Amorites, the Elamites, the proto-Babylonians at Susa) learned their culture from the Sumerians, and altered it surprisingly little, despite the eventual overthrow of Sumer by these very people. When Hammurabi formulates his famous legal code 2000 years later, it is based on Sumerian precedent, and not arising de novo... The gods of Sumer became the Gods of Babylon and perhaps even influenced the religions of ancient Egypt. He traces a line from Sumer, to Assyria, to Babylon, to Greece, to Rome: you can see where I'm going with this... Woolley seems to be a reputable person to be making such arguments: he was the adventurer/archaeologist who excavated Ur beginning in 1922 and restored the Ziggurat there... His biography on Wikipedia reads like an Indiana Jones movie. No amateur, he was considered the 20th century's foremost authority on ancient Sumer. His book blew the doors of my mind wide. Tales of the Flood; tales of Abraham's ancient home in Ur... Woolley, a secular archaeologist doesn't shy away from such linkages - he dives into them, drawing parallels between the Old Testament record and the archaeological record regularly. Really I can't say enough about this sometimes heavy, but utterly fascinating read. And if you want to hear what I think about how this all fits with the Book of Abraham, you have but to ask...
Final Grade: A
June 5, 2021
من ترجمه فارسی آقای صنعتی زاده از این کتاب روخوندم. اسم ایشون به عنوان مترجم توجهم رو جلب کرد و البته داستان سومریان که خیلی کم در موردش خونده بودم و بر خلاف خیلی کتابهای دیگر که میخرم خیلی زود شروع کردم به خوندنش.
کتاب به نسبت قدیمی بود و فکر میکنم بعد از نوشتن این کتاب اطللاعات بیشتری در مورد سومریان به دست اومده.
کتاب اطلاعات جالبی در مورد تاریخ یک قوم میده که خیره کننده و باورنکردنی هست که ۵هزار سال قبل به چه سطحی از کشورداری و اقتصاد و فرهنگ رسیده بودن. خیلی از جاهای کتابه رو با دهان باز و متعجب میخوندم.
کتاب اطلاعات تکمیلی مثل نقشه و عکسی تقریبا نداره و این موضوع خواندن کتاب رو سخت کرده بود. جاهایی در مورد یک اثر و اطلاعاتش صحبت میکنه که هیچ دیدی نسبت بهش نداشتم. ترجمه هم چندان درخشان وخوب نیست و احتیاج به يک ویراستاری تروتمیز داره.
کتاب به نسبت قدیمی بود و فکر میکنم بعد از نوشتن این کتاب اطللاعات بیشتری در مورد سومریان به دست اومده.
کتاب اطلاعات جالبی در مورد تاریخ یک قوم میده که خیره کننده و باورنکردنی هست که ۵هزار سال قبل به چه سطحی از کشورداری و اقتصاد و فرهنگ رسیده بودن. خیلی از جاهای کتابه رو با دهان باز و متعجب میخوندم.
کتاب اطلاعات تکمیلی مثل نقشه و عکسی تقریبا نداره و این موضوع خواندن کتاب رو سخت کرده بود. جاهایی در مورد یک اثر و اطلاعاتش صحبت میکنه که هیچ دیدی نسبت بهش نداشتم. ترجمه هم چندان درخشان وخوب نیست و احتیاج به يک ویراستاری تروتمیز داره.
December 5, 2019
Seriously I'm still unsure how all this was hidden from me. I took a very good Ancient History course in high school back in 76 and though the Sumerians were covered I guess we must of been racing to get to Greece and Rome and thus we didn't take a deep enough dive into the Sumer/Akkad period.
Anyway, found my way back after all these years when I was looking up Sappho and discovered Enheduanna, high priestess of Ninna-sin (moon god) and Innana (Ishtar, goddess of Venus) and learned her writings predated Sappho's writings by nearly 2000 years and only now I'm beginning to see all that I missed in 76 since Noah Kramer and Leonard Woolley were already intimately aware of her and much else even before then.
Starting in on "Inanna Lady of the Largest Heart" by Betty De Shong Meador specific to Enheduanna and then reading "Inanna Queen of Heaven and Earth" by Diane Wokstien and Samuel Kramer, two books that managed not to overlap the same poems/hymns/myths and thus complimented each other I was still a bit troubled by the authoress's feminist prospective. Thus it was off to Samuel Kramer for two good reads that helped validate the previous two authors, then to an accidental, but enjoyable, detour with Stephanie Dalley ("Myths from Mesopotamia") who plugs you into the Assyrian/Babylonian time period where the Sumerian traditions still run strong, but that being a large leap forward and one that I'll eventually follow up on, I finally have gotten back to Sumer/Akkad with this book by Woolley and am not at all disappointed.
Woolley's book says it was printed in 65 but Woolley himself died in 60 and an easy look through the internet offers no real date for when the book was actually written. Likely the 50's but I wouldn't let that deter you in reading this book. Like Kramer writing in the same time period and beyond he has a very strong grasp on his subject being one of the preeminent archaeologist of his time and starts you off in pre-Sumerian to the antediluvian all the way through the Sumer Akkad time periods giving you a very coherent picture of the social, political, military, economic, educational, religious aspects of the times and doesn't drop you off until the times of Hammurabi.
The first two pages seemed a bit stiff and I was left with the impression that all the comedians from the early black and white movie times had good reason for their digs on how stiff this guy was but the book really started to settle and became most readable after that, though I may have had a problem if I hadn't done earlier readings as mentioned.
The book does lack a glossary, but you'll get by with out one. Instead the ancient "The Kings List" provided will be your friend. The book does not go head to head with what I've read with Kramer ("The Sumerians Their History, Culture and Character" and "Sumerian Mythology"), instead they compliment each other rather well and as both authors have other books I will look forward to reading them. My original interest in Inanna and Sargon the Great's daughter, Enheduanna has also been fortified by these readings thus far.
Next up will be "Religion in Ancient Mesopotamia by Jean Bottero" and then Gwendolyn Leicks, "Mesopotamia The Invention of the City" as I plan on criss crossing this huge swath of history that gets little to no credit or even coverage in today's society even though its the forerunner for much of what we know and have today. I also find given the Annuki stuff on the internet it's best to start with more original sources to see what's what before making any determinations on such. From a biblical prospective readings thus far are also quite complementary and I'm finding nothing to be faith shattering if that is a concern. Just the opposite in fact and I find there's plenty of room to absorb this all into your knowledge base.
Anyway, found my way back after all these years when I was looking up Sappho and discovered Enheduanna, high priestess of Ninna-sin (moon god) and Innana (Ishtar, goddess of Venus) and learned her writings predated Sappho's writings by nearly 2000 years and only now I'm beginning to see all that I missed in 76 since Noah Kramer and Leonard Woolley were already intimately aware of her and much else even before then.
Starting in on "Inanna Lady of the Largest Heart" by Betty De Shong Meador specific to Enheduanna and then reading "Inanna Queen of Heaven and Earth" by Diane Wokstien and Samuel Kramer, two books that managed not to overlap the same poems/hymns/myths and thus complimented each other I was still a bit troubled by the authoress's feminist prospective. Thus it was off to Samuel Kramer for two good reads that helped validate the previous two authors, then to an accidental, but enjoyable, detour with Stephanie Dalley ("Myths from Mesopotamia") who plugs you into the Assyrian/Babylonian time period where the Sumerian traditions still run strong, but that being a large leap forward and one that I'll eventually follow up on, I finally have gotten back to Sumer/Akkad with this book by Woolley and am not at all disappointed.
Woolley's book says it was printed in 65 but Woolley himself died in 60 and an easy look through the internet offers no real date for when the book was actually written. Likely the 50's but I wouldn't let that deter you in reading this book. Like Kramer writing in the same time period and beyond he has a very strong grasp on his subject being one of the preeminent archaeologist of his time and starts you off in pre-Sumerian to the antediluvian all the way through the Sumer Akkad time periods giving you a very coherent picture of the social, political, military, economic, educational, religious aspects of the times and doesn't drop you off until the times of Hammurabi.
The first two pages seemed a bit stiff and I was left with the impression that all the comedians from the early black and white movie times had good reason for their digs on how stiff this guy was but the book really started to settle and became most readable after that, though I may have had a problem if I hadn't done earlier readings as mentioned.
The book does lack a glossary, but you'll get by with out one. Instead the ancient "The Kings List" provided will be your friend. The book does not go head to head with what I've read with Kramer ("The Sumerians Their History, Culture and Character" and "Sumerian Mythology"), instead they compliment each other rather well and as both authors have other books I will look forward to reading them. My original interest in Inanna and Sargon the Great's daughter, Enheduanna has also been fortified by these readings thus far.
Next up will be "Religion in Ancient Mesopotamia by Jean Bottero" and then Gwendolyn Leicks, "Mesopotamia The Invention of the City" as I plan on criss crossing this huge swath of history that gets little to no credit or even coverage in today's society even though its the forerunner for much of what we know and have today. I also find given the Annuki stuff on the internet it's best to start with more original sources to see what's what before making any determinations on such. From a biblical prospective readings thus far are also quite complementary and I'm finding nothing to be faith shattering if that is a concern. Just the opposite in fact and I find there's plenty of room to absorb this all into your knowledge base.
February 25, 2018
The author has led field expeditions for both U. Penn and the British Museum so his credentials are solid. I wish he had been taught to write in the active voice, however, so his interesting narrative was easier to read. But I digress. Sumaria is considered the first great human civilization, established at around 3500 BC. Archeologists have discovered great temples, stele, weapons, written trade records, law codes, and epics like the Gilgamesh legend from which a lot of much later Old Testament stories derive. The depth of time here is astounding. This great human treasure had been totally forgotten and the existence of the civilization was only discovered within the last century. As I read this book, however, I reflected on the archeology of neo lithic cities like Jericho (maybe 10,000 BC) and Catal Huyuk in Turkey (8000 BC). Clearly mankind has been developing political and cultural societies for a long time since we were hunter gathers. In any case, this book is fascinating, describing the culture, religion, and military exploits of a little known people. Their language is not Semitic and we don’t know where they came from, although the predispositions to put their gods on high places, like ziggurats, suggest they may have come from a mountainous region. Cities like Ur are found at least 100 miles inland from the mouth of the Euphrates/Tigris of today, showing how the land between the rivers has been formed by silting. The land was very fertile which probably led to agricultural development, but it also lacked stone, trees and metal. This led to a need for trade and the Sumerians had trade colonies in Anatolia, the Levant, and the Zagaros mountains. Trade led to writing, roadways, and a strong army, in short, the basis for the first true states. This area was fought over extensively by Akkadians, Hittites, Meads, Assyrians and you name it. As Semitic peoples moved into the rich area of civilization, they adopted the writing and institutions of Ur and other Sumerian cities, and eventually extinguished them, but not their culture. After about 1500 years the Sumerians were gone, replaced by Amorites, Babylonians and more. But think of it. We consider Babylon to be ancient history, yet the Sumerians beat them by 2000 years.
January 26, 2015
Woolley's classic book on Sumer is a great read. Less than 200 pages, the book provides an overview of Sumerian civilization as we knew it back in 1965. Whatever has been uncovered since cannot diminish the importance of this work.
The author was a product of his times. There are those who would criticize his juxtaposition of Sumer vs Akkad in terms of race, but this fits well with the understanding at the time. And besides, critics today seem to see everything through the lens of race in a way that is not unlike those of past times.
We are indebted to this great archaeologist for his contributions. Who has done more to unlock the secrets of this ancient civilization? I look forward to reading much more on the subject, and perhaps I will then have a greater understanding of his place in this work. Meanwhile, I am very grateful for what I have learned from this hard hardworking archaeologist and scholar.
The author was a product of his times. There are those who would criticize his juxtaposition of Sumer vs Akkad in terms of race, but this fits well with the understanding at the time. And besides, critics today seem to see everything through the lens of race in a way that is not unlike those of past times.
We are indebted to this great archaeologist for his contributions. Who has done more to unlock the secrets of this ancient civilization? I look forward to reading much more on the subject, and perhaps I will then have a greater understanding of his place in this work. Meanwhile, I am very grateful for what I have learned from this hard hardworking archaeologist and scholar.
November 1, 2011
An engrossing introduction despite the book's age. Or maybe because of it, as Woolley's preoccupations also say much about his own era. Clearly written and as good a starting point as any for newcomers to ancient Near Eastern history.
July 18, 2019
A good early understanding of Sumerian history during Woolley's time. I enjoyed the history. A bit vast span of history that made is difficult to comprehend everything. Pictures were nice to help get idea of what Woolley was describing.
July 5, 2012
Good book. Very comprehensive. Easy read. Apparently the author is very well regarded. There is the occasional use of language that dates the book a bit, but not a big deal.
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March 18, 2024Evidence for the idea that the Sumerians came from somewhere else is found in their use of wood, which was uncommon in the Mesopotamian Valley; also their location of their gods on the top of hills. About the early history of Sumer: "The main written sources for the history of the early periods are the lists of kings, certain legends, references to events in omen-texts, and later, royal inscriptions and the year-names of the kings" p. 27
"But in 3500 BC Sumerian art stood at a level seldom reached in the ancient world, and it must have had behind it centuries of growth and experience. " p. 45 The rapid development oof Egyptian civilization has always reflected a foreign influence. More likely it came from the Sumerians in the Euphrates Valley. Some examples include cylinder seals, pear shaped mace heads, a paneled construction in building, use of the musical instrument the sistrum, and elements of the religion of Egypt. see page 186 The old laws of Sumer, with slight modifications became the code of Babylon, the Code of Hammurabi, which was the basis of the code of Moses.
"But in 3500 BC Sumerian art stood at a level seldom reached in the ancient world, and it must have had behind it centuries of growth and experience. " p. 45 The rapid development oof Egyptian civilization has always reflected a foreign influence. More likely it came from the Sumerians in the Euphrates Valley. Some examples include cylinder seals, pear shaped mace heads, a paneled construction in building, use of the musical instrument the sistrum, and elements of the religion of Egypt. see page 186 The old laws of Sumer, with slight modifications became the code of Babylon, the Code of Hammurabi, which was the basis of the code of Moses.
August 23, 2025
Informative
Wolley is the archaeologist that was responsible in the 1920s for a multi-season excavation at the city of Ur in southern Mesopotamia. Very knowledgeable about Sumer and Sumerians
Wolley is the archaeologist that was responsible in the 1920s for a multi-season excavation at the city of Ur in southern Mesopotamia. Very knowledgeable about Sumer and Sumerians
October 3, 2022
Good book. Check it out.
August 1, 2012
This is 'old school' history. Lots of pottery shards and king lists from which some surprisingly inventive narrative is constructed. I'd like to find a more recent book on the subject and compare. Still, trying to explore the world of so long ago is a fascinating task.
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August 8, 2011Write a review...
September 15, 2012
Fascinating! I want to learn more about this amazing civilization!
March 26, 2017
Good information, easy to read. It's difficult to find good resources on this area of the world, so while I would like an updated version, it is a good place to start. I like that it includes information about law, women, and religious life. I thought it dealt with the subject fairly and respectfully. Good place to start, if you're curious about the Sumerians. I did enjoy that it includes pictures, too.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews