Comparing the Teotihucans and the Sumerians Essay

Comparing the Teotihucans and the Sumerians Written language was an important milestone in human history. It enabled the recording of history, dreams and tragedy. It allowed for commercial and historical record keeping. It allowed human beings to imprint thoughts on paper, for sharing, later review or just for fun. What about societies that never developed a written language? Could such a society rival one with that has? When advances of Sumerian city-states are compared to that of Teotihuacan there are a few instances where the Mesoamerican city appears to be more advanced. However, if ranked these appearances do not place Teotihuacan ahead of any one of Sumers Mesopotamian city-states. The formations of Sumerian city-states†¦show more content†¦Within these huge stepped cities within cities (49). an entire workforce was busy with the affairs of civilization (49). Field workers would farm temple lands to provide for the massive amounts of food that was distributed. In Lagash for example, food was prepared for 1200 people on a daily basis (49). Though the Pyramids of the Sun and Moon in Teotihuacan were not as elaborate as Sumerian Ziggurats, each civilization shared a Cosmo- magical characteristic. In Sumer, royal burial sites were so elaborate, that only specialized artisans could possibly have constructed them. According to the text, arches, vaults and domes were new levels of architecture found in burial tombs of the elite. In addition, elaborate funeral objects of gold and silver were also found with the dead. Sumerian arts and inventions flourished. The wheel itself, which led to the potters wheel and wagon wheels, were apparently invented in Sumer. (49). This lent sophistication to pottery and increased efficiency to farming. The Bronze Age found its origins in Sumerian civilization, which put metal tips on hoes, axes, arrowheads, daggers and many other tools. In Teotihuacan however, the economy thrived on agriculture, craftwork, and trade in ceramics and quarried obsidian. (98) There was no evidence in the text or lecture notes that they had achieved the amenities of the Bronze age. However,