Sumerians: A Captivating Guide to Ancient Sumerian History, Sumerian Mythology and the Mesopotamian Empire of the Sumer Civilization

by Captivating History

Explore the Captivating History of the Sumerians

The sheer importance of Sumerian culture in regards to world culture as a whole is impossible to overstate. This civilization is single-handedly responsible for some of the most major innovations in nearly every field relevant to maintaining a civilized society - this includes religion, lawmaking, architecture, schooling, art, literature, and even entertainment.

Naturally, most of what we see as negative aspects of society were established in Ancient Sumer as well. There wasn’t an aspect of Sumerian life that wasn’t plagued with corruption or devastation of one form or another. In other words, the Sumerians gave us both the sublimeness of faith and the rigidness of religious thought coupled with a desire for political supremacy. They gave us both the benevolent, caring monarchs and cruel, punishing tyrants; the educated child and the spoiled brat; the hard-working agrarian and the drunken reveler; and the epic empires as well as the pathetic remnants of them. The Sumerians did it all, and they did it first.

Some of the topics and questions covered in this book
Get the book now to learn more about the Sumerians!

Genres: History, Mythology, Ancient History, Nonfiction, Middle East, Audiobook, Amazon

100 pages, Paperback

Published May 2, 2018

Reviews

[Steven · Rating 3 out of 5]

While this book has a few too many lists of all of the kings of all the dynasties of the Sumerians (a well- constructed chart would have been more effective), once again, "Captivating History" serves up an easily accessible broad overview of a particular historical culture. These books are especially good for those of us who are curious about the past but not necessarily committed to reading an academic tome while still wanting more than a Wikipedia entry.

I suspect these would be great bed-time reading books for 9-11-year-olds.
They certainly are for this 47-year-old.

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed

Not as in-depth as I anticipated, but it was a nice little overview of the oldest civilization! I would recommend it to anyone who knows absolutely nothing about ancient Sumeria.

[Bonnie Dale Keck · Rating 5 out of 5]

kindle unlimited, the civilizations/cultures are in alphabetical at the end where list all the books out so far, good addition to those

Explore the Captivating History of the Sumerians Free History BONUS Inside!

The sheer importance of Sumerian culture in regards to world culture as a whole is impossible to overstate. This civilization is single-handedly responsible for some of the most major innovations in nearly every field relevant to maintaining a civilized society - this includes religion, lawmaking, architecture, schooling, art, literature, and even entertainment.

Naturally, most of what we see as negative aspects of society were established in Ancient Sumer as well. There wasn’t an aspect of Sumerian life that wasn’t plagued with corruption or devastation of one form or another. In other words, the Sumerians gave us both the sublimeness of faith and the rigidness of religious thought coupled with a desire for political supremacy. They gave us both the benevolent, caring monarchs and cruel, punishing tyrants; the educated child and the spoiled brat; the hard-working agrarian and the drunken reveler; and the epic empires as well as the pathetic remnants of them. The Sumerians did it all, and they did it first.

Some of the topics and questions covered in this book include:
The Ancient Sumerians In a Nutshell The Social Structure of Ancient Sumerians The Religion and Mythology of Ancient Sumerians The Sumerian Kingdoms Chronology The Everyday Life of Ancient Sumerians Sumerian Innovations Sumerian Culture Sumerian “Foreign Policy”: Relations with Other Nations And a Great Deal More that You don't Want to Miss out on!

BELOW: list of each book AND double books, and at end of listing is all books that have 5, 4, 3, and 2 sets IF more than one area {civilization etc} covered. Individuals are not covered/counted because easy enough to come across/look those up.

Nikola Tesla: A Captivating Guide to the Life of a Genius Inventor
Thomas Edison: A Captivating Guide to the Life of a Genius Inventor
Tesla Vs Edison: A Captivating Guide to the War of the Currents and the Life of Nikola Tesla and Thomas Edison

The Culper Ring: A Captivating Guide to George Washington's Spy Ring and its Impact on the American Revolution
Alexander Hamilton: A Captivating Guide to one of the Founding Fathers of the United States of America
Aaron Burr: A Captivaing Guide to the Life of Aaron Burr and the Most Famous Duel in American History
The Duel: A Captivating Guide to the Lives of Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr

World War 2: A Captivating Guide from Beginning to End (The Second World War and D Day Book 1)
D Day: A Captivating Guide to the Battle for Normandy (The Second World War and D Day Book 2)
The Second World War: A Captivating Guide to World War II and D Day

Winston Churchill: A Captivating Guide to the Life of Winston S. Churchill
Franklin Roosevelt: A Captivating Guide to the Life of FDR
Churchill and Roosevelt: A Captivating Guide to the Life of Franklin and Winston

Adolf Hitler: A Captivating Guide to the Life of the Führer of Nazi Germany

Korean War: A Captivating Guide to the Korean War History
Vietnam War: A Captivating Guide to the Second Indochina War
Cold War: A Captivating Guide to the Korean War and Vietnam War

Jackie Kennedy: A Captivating Guide to the Life of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis
John Kennedy: A Captivating Guide to the Life of JFK
Kennedy: A Captivating Guide to the Life of John F. Kennedy and Jacqueline Lee Kennedy Onassis

World History: Captivating Stories of Events That Shaped Our Planet (Forgotten History, History of the World, History Books)

Haitian Revolution: A Captivating Guide to the Abolition of Slavery
Black History: A Captivating Guide to African American History and the Haitian Revolution
Black History: A Captivating Guide to African American History and the Haitian Revolution
African American History: A Captivating Guide to the People and Events that Shaped the History of the United States

Trail of Tears: A Captivating Guide to the Forced Removals of Cherokee, Muscogee Creek, Seminole, Chickasaw, and Choctaw Nations

Mao Zedong: A Captivating Guide to the Life of a Chairman of the Communist Party of China, the Cultural Revolution and the Political Theory of Maoism

Aztec: A Captivating Guide to Aztec History and the Triple Alliance of Tenochtitlan, Tetzcoco, and Tlacopan (Mayan Civilization, Aztecs and Incas Book 2)
Maya Civilization: A Captivating Guide to Maya History and Maya Mythology (Mayan Civilization, Aztecs and Incas Book 1)
Ancient Civilizations: A Captivating Guide to Mayan History, the Aztecs, and Inca Empire

Celtic Mythology: A Captivating Guide to the Gods, Sagas and Beliefs

Chinese Mythology: A Captivating Guide to Chinese Folklore Including Fairy Tales, Myths, and Legends from Ancient China

Egyptian Mythology: Captivating Stories of the Gods, Goddesses, Monsters and Mortals (Norse Mythology - Egyptian Mythology - Greek Mythology Book 2)
Egyptian Mythology: A Fascinating Guide to Understanding the Gods, Goddesses, Monsters, and Mortals (Greek Mythology - Norse Mythology - Egyptian Mythology Book 3

Ancient Greece: A Captivating Guide to Greek History Starting from the Greek Dark Ages to the End of Antiquity
Greek Mythology: Captivating Greek Myths of Greek Gods, Goddesses, Monsters and Heroes
Greek Mythology: A Captivating Introduction to Greek Myths of Greek Gods, Goddesses, Heroes, and Monsters
Greek Mythology: A Captivating Guide to the Ancient Gods, Goddesses, Heroes, and Monsters (Norse Mythology - Egyptian Mythology - Greek Mythology Book 3)
Greek Mythology: A Fascinating Guide to Understanding the Ancient Greek Religion with Its Gods, Goddesses, Monsters and Mortals (Greek Mythology - Norse Mythology - Egyptian Mythology Book 1)
Greek Mythology: Captivating Tales of the Greek Gods, Goddesses, Heroes and Monsters (Classical Mythology; Greek Myths Book 1)

Japanese Mythology: A Captivating Guide to Japanese Folklore, Myths, Fairy Tales, Yokai, Heroes and Heroines

Norse Mythology: Captivating Stories of the Gods, Sagas and Heroes (Norse Mythology - Egyptian Mythology - Greek Mythology Book 1)
Norse Mythology: A Fascinating Guide to Understanding the Sagas, Gods, Heroes, and Beliefs of the
Vikings (Greek Mythology - Norse Mythology - Egyptian Mythology Book 2)

The Roman Republic: A Captivating Guide to the Rise and Fall of the Roman Republic, SPQR and Roman Politicians Such as Julius Caesar and Cicero
Roman Mythology: A Captivating Guide to Roman Gods, Goddesses, and Mythological Creatures (Classical Mythology)

Sumerians: A Captivating Guide to Ancient Sumerian History, Sumerian Mythology and the Mesopotamian Empire of the Sumer Civilization


Mythology: A Captivating Guide to Greek Mythology, Egyptian Mythology, Norse Mythology, Celtic Mythology and Roman Mythology
Mythology: A Captivating Guide to Greek Mythology, Egyptian Mythology, and Norse Mythology (Norse Mythology - Egyptian Mythology - Greek Mythology Book 4)
Mythology: A Fascinating Guide to Understanding Greek Mythology, Norse Mythology, and Egyptian Mythology
Mythology: A Captivating Guide to Greek Mythology, Egyptian Mythology, and Norse Mythology (Norse Mythology - Egyptian Mythology - Greek Mythology Book 4
Ancient Civilizations: A Captivating Guide to Mayan History, the Aztecs, and Inca Empire
Greek Mythology: Captivating Tales of the Greek Gods, Goddesses, Heroes and Monsters (Greek Mythology #1-2)
Classical Mythology: Captivating Stories of Greek and Roman Gods, Heroes, and Mythological Creatures
African American History: A Captivating Guide to the People and Events that Shaped the History of the United States
The Second World War: A Captivating Guide to World War II and D Day
Cold War: A Captivating Guide to the Korean War and Vietnam War

[Sergio · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very good introduction

Five stars is a minimum I can give a book that in so few pages gives you so a complete account of a formidable topic. Sumerians are present in our lives through many things and customs we use and follow everyday. The book, in eight chapters, renders a very complete account of several issues, which means political, religious, cultural, technological, even architectural and artistic. It also contains photographs of locations, buildings and some famous characters like Sargon. In sum, a highly recommended work, to be read in a few hours, with new insights and recent data of an astounding civilization (the mother of us all).

[Andrés · Rating 3 out of 5]

A short introduction to Sumerian civilization, though I wouldn't particularly qualify it as "captivating," at least not in terms of the writing. It was certainly interesting to notice the parallels with our own times and realize how advanced Sumer was for their time (ca 5000 BC). As the author states, Sumer was a civilization of firsts as far as archaeology and history are concerned, creating many tools that we use today in agriculture, inventing the wheel, even introducing a calendar based on the lunar cycle, with 12 months making up a year (they added an extra month every four years to account for the solar year). They had schools, created laws (which probably inspired Hammurabi's since he eventually conquered them), were fairly egalitarian (more so than other civilizations that succeeded them), and their mythology might've even inspired some of the Old Testament.

Through reading alone it's apparent there's a wealth of information on Sumerians and the author expressly acknowledges this, arguing this book is but a summary. Personally, having just read Eric Cline's "1177 B.C.: The Year Civilization Collapsed," I was a bit taken aback by the absence of references or citations to other archaeologists' or historians' works, what made me ponder sometimes what the evidence was for this or that assertion. Having said that, Asimov's "The Near East" is very similar in terms of its writing style and I liked it all the same.

I'd say this book probably works as a crash course into ancient Sumer, so do not expect a very detailed analysis of their civilization (impossible with only 135 pages). It has certainly persuaded me to get Samuel Noah Kramer's "Sumerian Mythology" and to look into further books in the Captivating History series.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a very nice overview of Sumerian culture. But that's as far as it goes. I didn't know anything about the Sumerians before, and don't really consider myself as having learned that much more. BUT.... and a very important 'but'... my curiosity is definitely whetted.

The writing was ok, but if I must be honest, it seemed more like I was writing a simplified version of a very well done research paper. Now, that's not really a bad thing. The writing itself was well done, and I didn't find it dry or tedious. Just very light on the details. I think if the writer ever did decide to write an in depth look at the subject, it would actually be a pretty decent read. Would I read more of these? Yes, actually, I would. And, knowing what to except, I don't believe I would be disappointed, other than wanting to know MORE. And while a little frustrating, that's not really a bad thing either. It definitely motivates me to look into the subject more in depth. Since there's a whole series of these, I will definitely look at them. If only to see if the subjects would really interest me enough to explore more in depth.

So, captivating? No, not really. But it was a short, decent read, the author brought up enough facts to be intriguing (if slightly frustrating), and made some excellent points. Most people would assume that civilization and culture began with the Greeks, or the Egyptians, at best. This book does a good job of pointing out that they would be wrong. Sumer came first and doesn't get enough credit. So I'd give this 3 1/2 stars if I could.

[Joshua Krause · Rating 1 out of 5]

If you don’t know anything about the Sumerians, there might be something in this book for you, and hopefully make you want to dig a bit deeper into history.

However, this book sounds like it was written by a child, one who needed their 3 page report to be 4 pages, so they simply repeated themselves over and over to fill up space. There are no references to speak of and much of the large-type, 90 page ‘book’ is simple listing of things-Kings, cities, people, tools, musical instruments. With how little information is actually included, it’s amazing how much of it is suspect or downright absurd. No, Sumerians didn’t invent art, knives, arrowheads, swords, saws, hammers, axes, etc. No, you can’t speak of genetic testing and outcomes without more background, and expect to be taken seriously. The lack of scholarship makes me suspect of even the most basic ‘facts’ that are included.

I’ve never read a more poorly written book in my life.

One star for gathering the lists of cities, rulers and gods in one place and for figuring out how to take other people’s money with the least amount of work possible . You should be ashamed of yourself.

[Mousie · Rating 5 out of 5]

They invented...beer!

One of the greatest facts I learned from this fascinating history is that the Sumerians invented beer. As always the books in this Captivating history series are excellent introductions to different areas of history, and this one was no exception. The author packed a lot of interesting information into a short, accessible volume, with some very attractive photos. It would have been nice to have even more pictures, as well as information on the location of the various artifacts pictured in the book (which museum they're in). This book will make you want to learn more about Sumer.

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a decent overview of ancient Sumeria. The narrator made a lot of pronunciation errors, not just with foreign words. I think my main criticism is that the author often made the mistake of claiming that the Sumerians were the first to do X, because the earliest records we have of X come from Sumeria. Usually, when we find archaeological evidence of something, it's an indication that that is not the first of that thing; it must have evolved earlier than that.

Otherwise, it was a well-written, easy read.

[Liam Malone · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book actually has 122 pp not 13. Starting with page 89 the book moves on to an Intro to Mayans & Aztecs.

A portions of the book simply recounts what has written in earlier chapters instead of giving us new information. Still a great overview of the important culture & a livele, quick read written in modern speaking style.

I recommend this book to start learning about the Sumerians and surrounding peoples.

[Nerd_Pilgrim · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short book filled with all the basics of the civilization of firsts. I loved all the little tidbits and trivia presented here, but that's all the book really is. If you're looking for a comprehensive book on Sumer, look elsewhere, but this will easily fill you with knowledge to satisfy a basic curiosity.

Sumeria enthusiasts look elsewhere, but this is perfect for someone wanting to learn about Sumer on the commute to work, or a kid preparing for an Ancient History.

[Richard Guthrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a good introduction to the Sumerian civilization. The book is brief and doesn't give a lot of detail but it good for 2 reasons. 1) it serves as a good summary and intro to those who are unfamiliar with this important civilization and 2) it gives a lot of references to those who want to those who want to dig deeper. The book is well written and easy reading.

[Diego Palomino · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great, short, sweet and to the point..

I loved this little book. As a fan of history and ancient civilizations I found this to be a great introduction to Sumarian civilization. It is also a good resourceful reference. Easy to read and very accessible, very well researched and full of interesting facts and pictures. Thanks Matt..

[Ruth clarke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quite a complicated aria of history to gain insight into , But this book helps , by making the introduction to the subject simple and accessible. I really like reading the Captivating History books, they are the easiest and most enjoyable method i know of to widen my knowledge of this era of history.

[Tommy Turner · Rating 3 out of 5]

The strength of this book is its devotion to facts and its ability to quickly provide facts clearly. The weakness is that this books lacks, almost completely, a narrative structure. The book frequently devolves into a list of names or facts. The book does not place nearly enough emphasis on big picture concepts.

[CRG · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful history book! The Author talks about the importance of the evidence and documents. Moreover, the resemblance of the Sumerians with our modern society from, literary, music, architecture, politics, food, technology and all the human developments.

The Sumerians were the true pioneers.

[Topher · Rating 3 out of 5]

"This book offers some of the most basic knowledge we have on Ancient SUmerians" - yup, seems about right. A short quick book, somewhere between a middle school textbook and a wikipedia article.

Not something I regret my time with (all 65 or so minutes of it), but not something I'll repeat either.

[Corrie Green · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read, babylonians man SUCH a cool period of time that we can read back on. Pretty sure its richest man in babylon totally came to mind here, there is a lot we can learn as a civilisation from looking at those that have came and dissapeared into history.

[Brandon Neary · Rating 1 out of 5]

kinda sucks. lot of stuff that makes me question how they would know that and the book gives no source. not really the best english too. at least the book gave some outlets of other books i can read to get more in depth about the sumerians

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting book. I knew nothing about these stories and they were so fascinating.

[Janelle C. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very basic introduction to Sumerian history and what is known of the cultre. I prefer deeper dives but this is a good way to get an overview.

[Siddhardh Sai · Rating 5 out of 5]

These books are so good that, you can complete books in single read

[Igor · Rating 4 out of 5]

For a 'book' I downloaded dor free on the Amazon, and based on only few pages, I found it very informative. Good introduction.

[Elizabeth Reid · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great read for an overview of an ancient civilization.

[Alex Philip · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting snapshot into the Sumer civilization. Fascinating to see how similar they are to use today.

[Firoze Cassim · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating brief account of the oldest civilization on earth!

[Jerry Jares · Rating 4 out of 5]

New DNA evidence seems to indicate that the Sumerians came from the Neolithic and Bronze Age sites such as Gonur Tepe and Anau in modern-day Turkmenistan. Previously, it was thought that they came from India or an area west of the Tiber and Euphrates Rivers.  They are truly an ancient culture because the earliest indications are in a small settlement about 6500 BC (near ancient Ur).  They were an innovative group of people, creating many of the tools we use today, including the pickaxe,  wheel, a calendar with 12 months, and created a system of laws.  It is thought that the Sumerians created the sailboat.

Sumerians had the first independent city-states, urban areas, art, music, and literature for non-religious use.  I particularly enjoyed learning about the everyday Sumerian.  An interesting factoid:  The first people to practice medicine came from the priestly class.

[Gabriel · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a brief overview about ancient Sumer. Some parts of the book felt like the author was just listing stuff. For example, when talking about music the author mentions they used wind instruments and then names five of them without giving much more detail. Having more images and comparing the instruments between each other and with modern wind instruments would have been far more useful than just listing them.

The same applies with kings and dynasties. I think spending more time in fewer items would have yielded a more captivating experience.