King Sargon of Akkad

Sumer (Akkadian: Šumeru; Sumerian: KI-EN-GIR, “Land of the Lords of Brightness”, or “land of the Sumerian tongue” possibly Biblical Shinar), located in southern Mesopotamia, is one of the earliest known civilizations in the world. It lasted from the first settlement of Eridu in the Ubaid period (late 6th millennium BC) through the Uruk period (4th millennium BC) and the Dynastic periods (3rd millennium BC) until the rise of Babylon in the early 2nd millennium BC. The term “Sumerian” applies to all speakers of the Sumerian language.

Sumer is widely considered to be the earliest settled society in the world to have manifested all of the features associated with civilization, with the development of writing, possibly as early as 5,500 years ago.