# data[].attributes.body
Despite the fact that Sumer's architecture was not as good as other civilizations, they didn't have a stable food supply until the middle in their time period, and they didn't have very good exports they still thrived in many other categories like overcoming their food supply problem, technology, and army or war. In the grand scheme of things Sumer's benefits outway their costs by a lot making them the greatest civilization.

# data[].attributes.body
Sumer existed from 5000 BCE to 1750 BCE. They excelled in many categories such as having a flourishing government, ahead of their time technology, and superior culture. Their government provided protection with the army, keeping the civilization in line by collecting taxes and enforcing laws, and having scribes to keep records. Sumer had outstanding technology that helped them succeed as a civilization. They invented the wheel which helped transportation, chariots in war, and carts for farmers. Their culture helped shape their civilization by having beliefs and gods. Sumer pleased the gods, had religious ceremonies for the gods, and creating unique art.

# data[].attributes.headline
Sumer faced challenges like not getting a good stable food supply until later in their civilization and not having as developed architecture.

# data[].attributes.subject
Sumer faced challenges like not getting a good stable food supply until later in their civilization and not having as developed architecture.

# data[].attributes.body
No Stable Food Supply
Sumer hunted and gathered at the beginning of their civilization but soon after they found that was very time consuming and difficult, so they quickly changed to farming. This increased the population and proved to be a much more efficient way to get food. So they had this problem but solved it ("Sumer").
Architecture
Sumer had good architecture but not compared to other civilizations. They had ziggurats and two story houses but they used mud brick and straw to make these houses ("Sumer"). This is good but not great. Sumer was the first civilization so it is impressive that they came up with all these ideas. It is expected that they have only mud to make these buildings. They were the first civilization and were limited on their materials (Stockdale).

# data[].attributes.headline
In ancient Sumer although they had many successes they had challenges such as fearing attacks from invaders, settling in a dry place, and not being able to export enough goods. 

# data[].attributes.subject
In ancient Sumer although they had many successes they had challenges such as fearing attacks from invaders, settling in a dry place, and not being able to export enough goods. 

# data[].attributes.body
Attacks
The Sumerians fought constant wars which helped them improve their war technology and strategy but sense they were always at war with other Mesopotamian  civilizations it left them vulnerable to outside attacks (Mark)
Dry and Hot Land
Sumer was hot and dry because it was hard getting enough water and there were not a lot of trees ("Sumer"). They did get some water from the Tigris and Euphrates but there still was little water. They got little rain which did not help them get a lot of water (Stockdale).
Not Good Exports
Sumer and other Mesoamerican civilization were resource poor so they did not have a lot to trade. Sumer had items to trade and it was very vital because they did not have a lot of resources ("Sumer").

# data[].attributes.headline
Sumer had important culture to shape their civilization by pleasing the gods, having religious ceremonies, and creating interesting and unique art.

# data[].attributes.subject
Sumer had important culture to shape their civilization by pleasing the gods, having religious ceremonies, and creating interesting and unique art.

# data[].attributes.body
Pleasing the Gods
Sumer tried to please the gods by growing crops, settling disputes, and constructing ziggurats. The ziggurats were temples for the gods made of mud brick. There was shrines at the highest point. These ziggurats were very big and Sumerians believed gods lived on top of them in the shrines. They also built statues to please the gods. They built them of different important people or gods ("Sumer"). Sumerians believed the gods were pleased when people showed signs of love or obedience (Mark).
Religious Ceremonies
Sumer had many ceremonies each year they enjoyed the different parts of entertainment. There was often music playing and sometimes a human sacrifice which served as an offering to the gods ("Sumer").
Arts
Sumer had many different types of artwork and artists. They had people such as metal workers who made objects like weapons, cups, mirrors, and jewelry ("Sumer"). They made weapons like swords and arrow heads. The mirrors and jewelry were normally for the upper class (Stockdale). Other artists were architecs that designed buildings and ziggurats. Sumerians also had music. They believed it brought joy to the gods. They had a variety of instruments like drums, pipes, and a harp called a lyre ("Sumer").

# data[].attributes.headline
Sumer had very successful technology inventing many advancements like the wheel, arches for building, and the first form of writing.

# data[].attributes.subject
Sumer had very successful technology inventing many advancements like the wheel, arches for building, and the first form of writing.

# data[].attributes.body
Invented the wheel
A great technological advancement was the wheel (Mark). It is used in many situations such as on chariots for the army, on them just for travel, and farmer carts. At first it was used flat side up with an axel on a pottery wheel to form clay. Sumer discovered if it was flipped on it's edge it could be rolled forward and used to be put of chariots and other vehicles ("Sumer").
Invented the Arch
Another important technological advancement was the arch. Sumer built them above doorways. They stacked bricks made of clay and straw. These arches added strength and beauty to their buildings. Arches were common features on temples and upper-class homes ("Sumer")
First Form of Writing
Another valuable advancement is cuneiform which is the first form of writing. Cuneiform is the Latin word for wedge. They used wedge-shaped stylus to write in clay tablets ("Sumer"). They used it to record goods people exchanged, laws, tax records, and how much food was stored and when people bought it (Stockdale).

# data[].attributes.headline
                                Thesis Statement

# data[].attributes.subject
                                Thesis Statement

# data[].attributes.body
Sumer, the first civilization, was the greatest empire, they had many strengths like a stupendous monarchy government, excellent technology, and superior culture.

# data[].attributes.headline
In ancient Sumer, they had a very successful government because the powerful kings enforced laws which included collecting taxes, led the army, and appointed scribes and officials.

# data[].attributes.subject
In ancient Sumer, they had a very successful government because the powerful kings enforced laws which included collecting taxes, led the army, and appointed scribes and officials.

# data[].attributes.body
Enforcing Laws
Kings had a lot of power in Sumer. The Sumerians believed the gods chose them. Kings enforced laws. Sumer had the first set of written laws. Scribes helped record the information of different things like laws, trades, and crops that the civilization ("Sumer").
Collecting Taxes
Kings collected taxes with their power. Sumer was one of the first empires to collect taxes. Sumer used household items like animals such as cows or sheep and merchants transported goods. Sumer used those things to pay taxes but later in their civilization they made different coins. Almost everything was taxed. Things like livestock, boat trade, fishing, and funerals. Scribes recorded the laws using cuneiform and writing on the rock tablets they used ("Sumer").
Leading the Army and Appointing Officials
Final duties of kings was to lead the army and appoint officials. A very important job of kings was to lead the army. They appointed officials to be either to be in the government or be a general to the army. Sumer fought constant wars against near by city states. Some new enemies and others they fought regularly. This period helped Sumer advance their technology and technique in war. They had advanced weapons for their time. They had metal workers that made weapons like swords or arrowheads for war. Sumerians fought six rows deep and and eight man front ("Sumer").