Sumerians

Sumerians appears on the timeline as a people or culture of Mesopotamia (Middle East) from c. 3200 to 1800 BCE, a span of more than 1,400 years. Its people spoke Isolates and ancient languages (Sumerian, Elamite, Hurrian, Urartian, Hattic, Kassite, Etruscan, Basque, Ainu).

Speakers of the isolate Sumerian in southern Mesopotamia, builders of the first cities, ziggurats and written literature. Sumerian died out as a spoken language around 1800 BCE but lived on in temples and schools.

See Sumerians on the interactive timeline

Facts

Dates: c. 3200 to 1800 BCE
Duration: more than 1,400 years
Type: People or culture
Region: Mesopotamia, Middle East
Language family: Isolates and ancient

Events in Middle East during its time

3200 BCE Writing invented at Uruk
2334 BCE Sargon founds the Akkadian Empire
2004 BCE Elamites sack Ur

Neighbours in Middle East

Old Babylonian Empire 1894 to 1595 BCE
Akkadian Empire c. 2334 to 2154 BCE
Ebla c. 3000 to 1600 BCE
Old Elamite period c. 2700 to 1500 BCE
Mari c. 2900 to 1761 BCE
Yamhad c. 1810 to 1517 BCE
Third Dynasty of Ur 2112 to 2004 BCE
Dilmun c. 2800 to 544 BCE
Troy c. 3000 to 1180 BCE
Byblos c. 2800 to 1200 BCE

Elsewhere in the world at the same time

Minoan civilization c. 3100 to 1450 BCE, Europe
Old Kingdom of Egypt c. 2686 to 2181 BCE, North and West Africa

Questions

When did Sumerians exist?

c. 3200 to 1800 BCE, about more than 1,400 years. These dates are approximate, because the evidence for its beginning or end is uncertain.

Where was Sumerians?

Mesopotamia, in Middle East.

What language did Sumerians speak?

Isolates and ancient. This family includes Sumerian, Elamite, Hurrian, Urartian, Hattic, Kassite, Etruscan, Basque, Ainu.