History Begins at Sumer – Samuel Noah Kramer – 1958, University of Pennsylvania Press
History Begins at Sumer: A Cultural Examination
Samuel Noah Kramer’s History Begins at Sumer explores the earliest known civilization, focusing on the Sumerian culture of Mesopotamia. The work presents a detailed account of Sumerian achievements in various fields, including law, governance, literature, and education. Kramer meticulously examines clay tablets – the primary source material – to reconstruct aspects of Sumerian life, thought, and belief systems. A significant portion of the book focuses on Sumerian mythology and its influence on later religious and literary traditions.
Historical / Cultural Context
Published in 1958, Kramer’s work arrived at a time of burgeoning archaeological discoveries in the Near East. Prior to this, much of early history was viewed through a Greco-Roman lens. Kramer challenged this perspective by demonstrating the independent achievements and profound impact of Sumerian civilization. The book coincided with increased scholarly interest in the origins of civilization and the decipherment of cuneiform script. It aimed to shift the narrative and establish Sumer as a foundational culture for many subsequent developments in human history. Its influence lies in presenting a systematic and accessible account of a civilization previously relegated to the margins of historical understanding.
Who This Book Is For
This book is geared towards readers with a general interest in ancient history, archaeology, and the origins of civilization. While Kramer was a leading Sumerologist, the book is written in a way that doesn’t require specialized knowledge of the field, making it accessible to a broad audience. The level of detail and scholarly approach also makes it valuable for students and researchers in related disciplines such as history, anthropology, and religious studies. The focus on primary sources provides insight into methods of historical reconstruction.
Further Reading
- Ancient Mesopotamia: Portrait of a Dead Civilization by A. Leo Oppenheim
- The Epic of Gilgamesh (various translations) – a key work of Sumerian literature discussed in Kramer’s book.
- From Mesopotamia to Modernity: Origins of Western Civilization by Thorkild Jacobsen
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