a) The domestication of plants and animals
The domestication of plants and animals was a huge step in the growth of civilizations. It provided a way for humans to learn how to control and tame the environment around them. When people learned how to do this, they had a stable supply of food, often a surplus. Because people didn't have to work as hard to find food, they had time for specialization and division of labor.
b) The transition from hunter-gatherer communities to the first civilizations
Hunter-gatherers didn't have very secure ways of living. They followed the food, instead of making the food follow them. The transition to civilizations was easier and more comfortable. This way they had time to pursue other interests, they always had stable food supplies, and life became more predictable.
c) Early religion and beliefs
Early people had several religions and beliefs. They didn't have science, so they had to figure out a way to explain their surroundings. They decided that the Earth had to have been created somehow, so they began to believe in higher powers, or gods. Religion has evolved over time, however, and we don't have the same types of religions today. Still, many early beliefs have continued on to today.
2. Imagine someone saying to you, "Learning about the Sumerians isn't very
important since they're long gone!" What would you tell them in order to change their mind? Learning about the first ever civilization is important so that we can learn about how we began to settle and survive the world around us. History is like a big puzzle, and only once we find all of the pieces can we truly see the whole picture. Sumerians seemed to be the first real smart people who actually thought for themselves.
