The Ancients The Sumerians
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Aug 31, 2025 
In this engaging discussion, Assyriologist Paul Collins, currently at the British Museum, sheds light on the enigmatic Sumerians—one of the world’s first civilizations. He explores their groundbreaking contributions, including the development of writing and urban planning. The talk dives into the origins of the Sumerians, their remarkable cities like Uruk, and the tragic marks of their decline. Fascinating artifacts and burial practices are uncovered, revealing the rich cultural tapestry of this ancient society and its lasting legacy.
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Sumerians As Early Innovators
- The Sumerians emerged in southern Iraq around 3500–2000 BC and are credited with early cities, writing, and the wheel.
- Their innovations mark the shift from prehistory to history via the development of writing.
How Sumerian Was Discovered
- Decipherment began mid-19th century when scholars realised cuneiform was syllabic and encoded Semitic languages.
- Edward Hincks then identified an underlying non-Semitic language we now call Sumerian.
Sumerian As A Language Isolate
- Sumerian is a language isolate with very different grammar from Semitic languages like Arabic and Hebrew.
- Scholars often compare it to Basque as having no known relatives.
