Sumerians: Lost Civilizations

The Sumerians are widely believed to have created the world's earliest civilization, but Paul Collins reveals that they were reinvented a number of times, both in antiquity and in the more recent past.

Format: Hardback
Length: 208 pages
Publication date: 15 March 2021
Publisher: Reaktion Books

The Sumerians, widely regarded as the pioneers of the world's earliest civilization, emerged on the lush floodplains of southern Iraq between approximately 3500 and 2000 BC. Their remarkable achievements include the invention of cities, writing, and the wheel, making them a timeless mirror of our modern urban and literate world. However, the prevailing narrative of the Sumerians as a unified and coherent people is far from accurate. In his groundbreaking work, Paul Collins delves into the intricate process of reconstructing the Sumerian identity, shedding light on how it was assembled from the archaeological and textual evidence uncovered in Iraq and Syria over the past 150 years.

Collins reveals that the Sumerians were not merely lost and found but were reinvented multiple times throughout history, both in antiquity and in the more recent past. The biases of the individuals who unearthed these ancient artifacts shaped the way we perceive the Sumerians, leading to a reconstructed narrative that may not fully reflect their true nature.

One of the key revelations in Collins' work is the realization that the Sumerians were not a monolithic society but rather a complex network of city-states and kingdoms. These states were often in competition with each other, and their political alliances and rivalries played a significant role in shaping their culture and society. The Sumerian language, for instance, was not a unified language but rather a collection of dialects spoken by different groups, each with its unique characteristics and variations.

Another important aspect of the Sumerian identity is the role of religion in their society. The Sumerians were polytheistic, worshiping a multitude of gods and goddesses who were believed to control various aspects of life, including agriculture, war, and fertility. The temples and monuments built by the Sumerians were not just places of worship but also symbols of their religious beliefs and cultural identity.

Despite the Sumerians' remarkable achievements, their civilization was not without its challenges. Over time, they faced invasions from neighboring empires, such as the Akkadian Empire and the Babylonian Empire, which led to the decline and eventual collapse of some Sumerian city-states. However, the Sumerians were able to reinvent themselves and adapt to these challenges, emerging as a powerful and influential civilization once again.

In conclusion, Paul Collins' work provides a fresh perspective on the Sumerians, challenging the prevailing narrative and revealing the complex and multifaceted nature of their civilization. Through his meticulous research and analysis, Collins sheds light on the biases and reconstructive processes that have shaped our understanding of the Sumerians, providing a more accurate and nuanced portrayal of this ancient and influential people.

Weight: 556g
Dimension: 147 x 225 x 21 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781789144154