Nisa's Journal Entry Summary

Introduction

• Nisa's journal is a reflection of her life in ancient Sumer, particularly in the city-state of Nipor.

Early Life and Agriculture

• Ancestral Lifestyle:
  • Ancestors were hunters and gatherers, constantly on the move.
  • Found difficulty in obtaining food due to wandering lifestyle.
• Agricultural Innovation:
  • Discovery of farming with wild wheat and domesticating goats and sheep (domestication).
  • Shift from hunting to settled agriculture due to the fertile river valley.
• Location and Fertility:
  • Mesopotamia means "land between the rivers" (Tigris and Euphrates).
  • Fertile soil due to melting snow from northern mountains, leading to seasonal floods that enrich the land.

Food Production

• Crops and Livestock:
  • Sumerians grow barley, wheat, beans, melons, dates, apples, figs, and grapes.
  • Animals provide milk, cheese, meat, and fish from rivers.
• Irrigation Techniques:
  • Invention of levees to prevent flooding and gated ditches to control water supply for crops.
• Agricultural Tools:
  • Use of the plow, a Sumerian invention, pulled by oxen.

Calendar and Timekeeping

• Lunar Calendar:
  • Invented a calendar based on the moon and stars with 12 months, each having 30 days.
  • Helped predict floods and plan for agricultural activities.

Writing and Record Keeping

• Invention of Writing:
  • Development of cuneiform writing on clay tablets.
  • Allowed record-keeping for trade, laws, and daily activities.

Social Structure and Economy

• City-States:
  • Formation of villages and city-states due to agricultural surplus.
  • Each city-state has its own king and is dedicated to a specific god.
• Nipor:
  • Sacred to the god Enlil; home to a significant ziggurat (temple).
• Living Conditions:
  • Wealth distribution; priests and merchants in two-story houses; farmers in one-story houses.
• Family Life:
  • Nisa's family has a two-story house; her mother runs the household; Nisa aspires to become a scribe.

Religion

• Spiritual Beliefs:
  • Worship of seven major gods and the significance of rituals and offerings in daily life.
  • Priests play a central role in ceremonies and maintaining relations with the gods.

Governance

• Kings and Priests:
  • City-states ruled by kings believed to be chosen by the gods.
  • Kings manage trade, disputes, and temple maintenance.
• Taxation System:
  • Various taxes paid in goods and services; heads of households contribute labor as tax in lieu of monetary payments.

Conclusion

• Nisa's journal captures the essence of Sumerian life, agriculture, social structure, religious practices, and governance.