Sumerian innovations
Sumerian innovations 1-956
The Sumerians' innovations gradually spread and led to the development of the modern technological world in which we live today. Below are some of the innovations in which the Sumerians left their mark.
1⃣Pottery produced in large quantities
The Sumerians were the first to develop the turning wheel for making pottery, so the turning process allowed them to produce large quantities such as worker ration containers.
2⃣Writing
The Sumerians were the first to create and develop a writing system
3⃣Engineering
The Sumerians discovered how to collect and channel the surplus from the Tigris and Euphrates rivers - and the rich silt they contained - and then use it to irrigate and fertilize their agricultural fields. They designed complex systems of canals, creating dams of reeds, palm trunks and clay whose gates could be opened or closed to regulate the flow of water.
4⃣The cart
They developed the first two-wheeled vehicle that drove a group of animals. There is evidence that the Sumerians had chariots for transportation in the third century BC, but they were probably used in ceremonies or by the army rather than as a means of getting around the countryside, as the rugged terrain made Traveling with wheels is difficult
5⃣The plow
The Sumerians invented the plough, a vital technology in agriculture. They even issued a manual that gave farmers detailed instructions on how to use different types of plows, and specified the prayers that should be recited to honor Ninkelim, “the rodent goddess of the field,” in order to protect the grains from being eaten.
6⃣Textile factories
While other cultures in the Middle East collected wool and used it to weave fabrics and clothing, the Sumerians were the first to do this on an industrial scale. It is noted that the Sumerians formed larger labor organizations to make textiles.
7⃣Bricks produced in large quantities
To compensate for the shortage of stones and wood to build houses and temples, the Sumerians created molds for making clay bricks in large quantities and putting them together on a large scale. Their buildings may not have been as durable as stone buildings but they were able to build more of them and create larger cities
8⃣ Mineralogy
The Sumerians were among the first people to use copper to make useful objects, ranging from spearheads to chisels and razor blades. They also made art from copper, including dramatic paintings depicting fantastical animals such as an eagle with the head of a lion.
9⃣ Mathematics
It was the Sumerians who developed a formal numbering system based on units of 60. With the development of cuneiform, they used vertical marks on clay tablets. Their system helped lay the foundations for the mathematical calculations of the civilizations that followed.


Source: website