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This period is generally taken to coincide with a major shift in population from southern Mesopotamia toward the north. Ecologically, the agricultural productivity of the Sumerian lands was being compromised as a result of rising salinity. Soil salinity in this region had been long recognized as a major problem. Poorly drained irrigated soils, in an arid climate with high levels of evaporation, led to the buildup of dissolved salts in the soil, eventually reducing agricultural yields severely. During the Akkadian and Ur III phases, there was a shift from the cultivation of wheat to the more salt-tolerant barley, but this was insufficient, and during the period from 2100 BC to 1700 BC, it is estimated that the population in this area declined by nearly three fifths.[24]This greatly weakened the balance of power within the region, weakening the areas where Sumerian was spoken, and comparatively strengthening those where Akkadian was the major language. Henceforth Sumerian would remain only a literaryand liturgical language, similar to the position occupied by Latin in medieval Europe.

Following an Elamite invasion and sack of Ur during the rule of Ibbi-Sin (ca. 1940 BC), Sumer came under Amorites rule (taken to introduce the Middle Bronze Age). The independent Amorite states of the 20th to 18th centuries are summarized as the "Dynasty of Isin" in the Sumerian king list, ending with the rise of Babylonia under Hammurabi ca. 1700 BC.

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What factors caused crops to stop growing in Sumer?

Crops in Sumer experienced reduced growth due to factors such as salinization of soil from irrigation, decreasing fertility from over-cultivation, and climate changes leading to periods of drought and insufficient water supply. These conditions contributed to agricultural decline in Sumer over time.


What are some reasons for the decline for the Sumer?

Some of the reasons for the decline of Sumer include the reduction of agricultural production. There was a population decline during this time, weakening the power of the Sumerians.


What are geographic features of sumer?

The Tigris and Euphrates Rivers.


What did the Sumerian civilization contribute to the world?

Sumer contributed writing, because they were the pioneers of cuneiform writing.


What were some reasons for the decline of the city states?

The answer is that they just pooped


Reasons for the decline of sumer?

Iraq has no natural boundaries, thus the Sumerians were vulnerable to attacks from Akkad, the Elamites and the Amorites, as well as the Guti.


What was Cuneiform and who contributed it to society?

Cuneiform Script was one of the earliest forms of the written language. It originated in a place called Sumer, which was a historical area in Southern Iraq, around the 30th Century. It was created by the people of Sumer, the Sumerian.


What three tribes conquered and ruled mesopotamia after the decline of sumer's city-state?

They knew how to do it so they didn't come back until their ruler was a better leader


Put sumer in a sentence?

Sumer was an ancient kingdom.The kingdom of Sumer no longer exists. The artifacts were from Sumer.


What is the religion of Sumer?

polytheism


What is a sumer?

a sumer is a kind of writing


Religion of sumer?

Social classes of Sumer