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Sumer Timeline

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  • c. 5,400 BCE
    The City of Eridu is founded.
  • c. 5,000 BCE
    Godin Tepe settled
  • 5,000 BCE – 1,750 BCE
    Sumerian civilization in the Tigris-Euphrates valley.
  • c. 5,000 BCE
    Sumer inhabited by Ubaid people.
  • c. 5,000 BCE
    Evidence of burial in Sumer.
  • c. 5,000 BCE – 4,100 BCE
    The Ubaid Period in Sumer.
  • c. 4,500 BCE
    The Sumerians built their first temple.
  • c. 4,500 BCE
    The City of Uruk founded.
  • 4,100 BCE – 2,900 BCE
    Uruk Period in Sumer.
  • c. 3,600 BCE
    Invention of writing in Sumer at Uruk.
  • c. 3,500 BCE
    First written evidence of religion in Sumerian cuneiform.
  • c. 3,200 BCE
    First instance of written language in Sumerian.
  • c. 3,000 BCE
    Sumer civilization in Mesopotamia use gold in jewellery manufacture.
  • 2,900 BCE – 2,334 BCE
    Early Dynastic Period in Sumer.
  • 2,900 BCE – 2,334 BCE
    The Early Dynastic Period in Sumer.
  • 2,700 BCE
    Hatti people establish trade with the city of Sumer.
  • c. 2,600 BCE – c. 2,000 BCE
    The Royal Graves of Ur used in Sumer.
  • 2,500 BCE
    First Dynasty of Lagash under King Eannutum is first empire in Mesopotamia.
  • c. 2,500 BCE
    Beginning of literature in Sumerian.
  • 2,350 BCE
    First code of laws by Urukagina, king of Lagash.
  • 2,334 BCE – 2,218 BCE
    The Akkadian Empire rules Sumer.
  • 2,218 BCE – 2,047 BCE
    The Gutian Period in Sumer.
  • c. 2,150 BCE – c. 1,400 BCE
    The Sumerian Epic of Gilgamesh written on clay tablets.
  • 2,100 BCE
    The Reign of Utu-Hegal at Uruk in Sumer and creation of Sumerian King List.
  • c. 2,055 BCE – 2,047 BCE
    Utu Hegel’s reign over Sumerian and Akkadian cities.
  • 2,047 BCE – 1,750 BCE
    The Ur III Period in Sumer, known as the Sumerian Renaissance.
  • 2,047 BCE – 2,030 BCE
    Ur-Nammu‘s reign over Sumer.
  • 2,047 BCE – 1,750 BCE
    The Ur III Period in Sumer. Great Wall of Uruk still standing.
  • 2,047 BCE – 1,750 BCE
    Ur III Period in Sumer.
  • c. 2,038 BCE
    King Shulgi of Ur builds his great wall in Sumer.
  • 2,030 BCE
    The Gutians rise again against Sumer. Ur-Nammu killed in battle.
  • c. 1,990 BCE
    Construction of the Great Wall to keep the Amorites from Sumer.
  • c. 1,772 BCE
    The Code of Hammurabi: One of the earliest codes of law in the world.
  • 1,750 BCE
    Elamite invasion and Amorite migration ends the Sumerian civilization.
  • c. 1,120 BCE
    The Sumerian Enuma Elish (creation story) is written.

Visual Timeline

To navigate the timeline, click and drag it with your mouse, or click on the timeline overview on the bottom.

Legend:
       

5,500 BCE5,000 BCE4,500 BCE4,000 BCE3,500 BCE3,000 BCE2,500 BCE2,000 BCE1,500 BCE
5,400 BCE: The City of Eridu is founded.
5,000 BCE: Godin Tepe settled
5,000 BCE – 1,750 BCE: Sumerian civilization in the Tigris-Euphrates valley.
5,000 BCE: Sumer inhabited by Ubaid people.
5,000 BCE: Evidence of burial in Sumer.
5,000 BCE – 4,100 BCE: The Ubaid Period in Sumer.
4,500 BCE: The Sumerians built their first temple.
4,500 BCE: The City of Uruk founded.
4,100 BCE – 2,900 BCE: Uruk Period in Sumer.
3,600 BCE: Invention of writing in Sumer at Uruk.
3,500 BCE: First written evidence of religion in Sumerian cuneiform.
3,200 BCE: First instance of written language in Sumerian.
3,000 BCE: Sumer civilization in Mesopotamia use gold in jewellery manufacture.
2,900 BCE – 2,334 BCE: Early Dynastic Period in Sumer.
2,900 BCE – 2,334 BCE: The Early Dynastic Period in Sumer.
2,700 BCE: Hatti people establish trade with the city of Sumer.
2,600 BCE – 2,000 BCE: The Royal Graves of Ur used in Sumer.
2,500 BCE: First Dynasty of Lagash under King Eannutum is first empire in Mesopotamia.
2,500 BCE: Beginning of literature in Sumerian.
2,350 BCE: First code of laws by Urukagina, king of Lagash.
2,334 BCE – 2,218 BCE: The Akkadian Empire rules Sumer.
2,218 BCE – 2,047 BCE: The Gutian Period in Sumer.
2,150 BCE – 1,400 BCE: The Sumerian Epic of Gilgamesh written on clay tablets.
2,100 BCE: The Reign of Utu-Hegal at Uruk in Sumer and creation of Sumerian King List.
2,055 BCE – 2,047 BCE: Utu Hegel’s reign over Sumerian and Akkadian cities.
2,047 BCE – 1,750 BCE: The Ur III Period in Sumer, known as the Sumerian Renaissance.
2,047 BCE – 2,030 BCE: Ur-Nammu’s reign over Sumer.
2,047 BCE – 1,750 BCE: The Ur III Period in Sumer. Great Wall of Uruk still standing.
2,047 BCE – 1,750 BCE: Ur III Period in Sumer.
2,038 BCE: King Shulgi of Ur builds his great wall in Sumer.
2,030 BCE: The Gutians rise again against Sumer. Ur-Nammu killed in battle.
1,990 BCE: Construction of the Great Wall to keep the Amorites from Sumer.
1,772 BCE: The Code of Hammurabi: One of the earliest codes of law in the world.
1,750 BCE: Elamite invasion and Amorite migration ends the Sumerian civilization.
1,120 BCE: The Sumerian Enuma Elish (creation story) is written.