The Sumerians: Their History, Culture, and Character (Phoenix Books) (Paperback)

~ Samuel Noah Kramer (Author) "Sumer, the land which came to be known in classical times as Babylonia, consists of the lower half of Mesopotamia, roughly identical with modern Iraq..." (more)
Key Phrases: unidentifiable official, spirited young bull, great ensi, King List, University Museum, Near East (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

The Sumerians, the pragmatic and gifted people who preceded the Semites in the land first known as Sumer and later as Babylonia, created what was probably the first high civilization in the history of man, spanning the fifth to the second millenniums B.C. This book is an unparalleled compendium of what is known about them.

Professor Kramer communicates his enthusiasm for his subject as he outlines the history of the Sumerian civilization and describes their cities, religion, literature, education, scientific achievements, social structure, and psychology. Finally, he considers the legacy of Sumer to the ancient and modern world.

"There are few scholars in the world qualified to write such a book, and certainly Kramer is one of them. . . . One of the most valuable features of this book is the quantity of texts and fragments which are published for the first time in a form available to the general reader. For the layman the book provides a readable and up-to-date introduction to a most fascinating culture. For the specialist it presents a synthesis with which he may not agree but from which he will nonetheless derive stimulation."—American Journal of Archaeology

"An uncontested authority on the civilization of Sumer, Professor Kramer writes with grace and urbanity."—Library Journal

Product Details

• Paperback: 372 pages
• Publisher: University Of Chicago Press (February 15, 1971)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0226452387
• ISBN-13: 978-0226452388
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.8 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #22,142 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #2 in	Books > History > Ancient > Assyria, Babylonia & Sumer
  #21 in	Books > Science > Archaeology
  #82 in	Books > Travel > Reference & Tips > Essays & Travelogues

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent book on Sumer., October 19, 2000

By	Kurt A. Johnson (North-Central Illinois, USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This book is an in-depth study of ancient Sumer, with a great focus on the actual writings of the Sumerians themselves. The author has chapters on history, society, religion, literature, education, and character. As a real bonus, instead of just referencing various Sumerian writings, the author actually reproduces them here with great frequency.

This is a great book, an excellent resource on Sumerian culture. Unfortunately, having been written in 1963, it is rather out-of-date, but is still a fascinating read, and is quite accurate in all of the important points. If you are interested in ancient Sumer, then you must read this book.

23 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Some overlap but still a great book, February 16, 2005

By	Ray Farmer (Concord, MA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book was originally written as an addition to Kramer's previous work "History begins at Sumer". Eventually, however, a revised version of "History begins at Sumer" was published and incorporated a lot of material from "The Sumerians". Consequently, readers who have already become acquainted with "History begins at Sumer" may experience a bit of deja vu when reading the present book. For example, the chapters on Sumerian literature, education, and character contain extensive overlap with Kramer's other work. Despite this fact, Kramer's excellent discussion of Sumerian history, society and religion in "The Sumerians" still makes this book well-worth reading. As an added bonus, the appendix contains the Sumerian king list, the Code of Lipit-Ishtar (a forerunner of Hammurabi), and numerous other interesting translations.

I disagree with previous reviewers who claim that Kramer was prejudiced against the Sumerians and considered them to be inferior to their Semitic heirs. Indeed, if anything, I would say that Kramer emphasizes the legacy left by the Sumerians and the mark that they left behind on Semitic culture. The last chapter considers this subject in greater detail and also provides some interesting parallels between Sumerian culture and the Bible. Regardless of the negative criticism, "The Sumerians" is a great introduction to the history and culture of this ancient civilization and is worth checking out.

15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Disregard a Certain Review Appearing Below This One, March 8, 2005

By	W. F. Giuliano (Atlanta, Georgia) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book will indeed "bore you to tears" if what you are looking for is loony science fiction set in ancient Mesopotamia. However, if, unlike the individual of quite dubious intellectual ability and judgment whose comments will be found below, you have as your objective to learn something about the actual Sumerian civilization as it once existed on planet Earth, then it is a very worthwhile read.

Just to make things completely clear, the book entitled something like "The 12th Planet" is all about aliens having created civilized man (the Sumerians in particular) and foolishness of that ilk. Of course, if one takes that as fact, then one might be angry at an author who "omits" such an important part of the history of the first of the great civilizations.