Introduction

Sumerian settlements were to be found right the way through mesopotamia, in and around the tigris and euphrates rivers. The definition of a civilization is an urban stratified society with a ruling elite at the top and a working or slave class at the bottom. So what exactly is su ma? Well we could describe suma as the first civilization of mesopotamia. We believe that uruk is a terrific example of a small settlement becoming a significant and stratified city state.