What were the Sumerian achievements in art and architecture?

The Sumerians were a civilization that emerged in the southern part of Mesopotamia (present-day Iraq) around 4000 BCE. They made significant contributions to the fields of art and architecture during their time.

One of the most notable achievements of Sumerian art is the creation of the first true writing system, cuneiform. This system involved pressing a reed stylus into clay tablets to create wedge-shaped marks that represented words and concepts. The Sumerians used this writing system to create some of the earliest written works in human history, including epic poems, hymns, and legal codes.

Sumerian art also included the creation of intricate metalwork, pottery, and jewelry. These works often featured representations of gods, animals, and scenes from everyday life. Sumerian architecture was characterized by the creation of monumental structures such as ziggurats, which were massive stepped towers that served as religious temples. The most famous of these structures is the Great Ziggurat of Ur, which still stands in present-day Iraq.

The Sumerians also created a system of city-states that were each ruled by a king. These city-states often engaged in warfare with one another and built defensive walls and fortifications to protect themselves.