Sumerians and Their Knowledge of Biology

Magtibay, Ezra Dennis Miguel M.
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Sumerians and their knowledge of Biology
The Sumerian civilization which strived during 4500-1750 BCE is an
ancient civilization also referred to as “the black-headed ones,” lived in the
southern region of what is now Iraq was also known as ancient Mesopotamia as
what the Greeks later called them. They were located between two rivers, the
Euphrates and Tigris river, which was also a name for the Sumerian civilization,
the “Land between the Rivers.”
It was known to be the “cradle of civilization” as it was the first human
civilization known. Nomads moved to fertile lands and began to form small
villages which slowly grew into large towns. Eventually these cities developed into
the civilization of the Sumer.
The Sumerian civilization had plenty of inventions and ideas that helped to
continue shape the world. One of the earliest forms of communication came from
this civilization known as “cuneiform” that made everything easy. Communication
was made easy for using characters from the cuneiform, as well as counting as
numbers were also used, and of course literature. One of the earliest known
literature was ‘Epic of Gilgamesh’ that told a story of a heroic Sumerian king.
Also, cuneiform had a big impact on commerce and trading because it allowed
merchants and traders to keep records of items in large volumes which lead to
increase in traders from foreign land to come to Mesopotamia.
Aside from those discoveries, the civilization was also known for great
architectural features. The Anu Ziggurat was the greatest monument built during
the Sumerian civilization on which the White Temple is located. Dedicated to the
sky god Anu, the temple can be seen from a great distance even over the walls of
the city.
Aside from that, in terms of biology or science the Mesopotamians did not
really have a distinction between science and magic. When people were sick from
an illness, doctors use only magical words recited to the patients or also known
nowadays as witch doctor or in our case in the Philippines “albularyos.” Other than
that, there were also people referred to as physicians that were able to treat
physical symptoms using remedies from herbs and animal products. The ancient
Mesopotamia also practiced prophylaxis to prevent disease from spreading.

Philippine Indigenous knowledge, systems, and practices
Even before foreign countries colonized our country, our ancestors already
had an idea on how to utilize the resources around them and what to do with it.
With every resource there were certain methods that our ancestors used in order to
use them to their extent.
One of which is in the field of farming where they used the slope of the
mountains and putting terraces to ease the irrigation system making it a lesser
burden for as they would need only to put ponds and eventually have a continuous
supply of water to avoid drying up of the ponds.
In terms of medicine, it was believed that every illness that humans felt there
is a corresponding ritual-based cure. There were only specific persons allowed to
do these rituals and they were called ‘Mombaki’ or local priest that does rituals
based from dead ancestors as they believe that one of the ancestors of the ill has
caused them the illness.
Other than that, herbs and plants were used as remedies for curing other
illnesses. For example, tamarinds were used then to cure cough and cold in which
nowadays in the Philippines ‘sinigang’ which is a national dish that uses tamarind
gives a warm broth that can help ease cough and cold.
References:
McIntosh, Jane R. (2005). Ancient Mesopotamia: New Perspectives. Santa

Barbara, California, Denver, Colorado, and Oxford, England: ABC-CLIO. pp.
273–276. ISBN 978-1-57607-966-9.
AccessScience Editors. (2014). Sumerians. In AccessScience. McGraw-Hill

Education. https://doi.org/10.1036/1097-8542.BR0225141
Rana, V. (2015, August 8). Sumerian Civilization and It's Contributions. Retrieved
February 3, 2020, from http://www.historydiscussion.net/world-history/sumerian-
civilization-notes-on-the-contributions-of-the-sumerian-civilisation/1899

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Magtibay, Ezra Dennis Miguel M.

The Sumerian civilization which strived during 4500-1750 BCE is an

ancient civilization also referred to as “the black-headed ones,” lived in the

the “Land between the Rivers.”

It was known to be the “cradle of civilization” as it was the first human

the civilization of the Sumer.

this civilization known as “cuneiform” that made everything easy. Communication

increase in traders from foreign land to come to Mesopotamia.

Mesopotamia also practiced prophylaxis to prevent disease from spreading.

use them to their extent.

supply of water to avoid drying up of the ponds.

is a corresponding ritual-based cure. There were only specific persons allowed to

caused them the illness.

McIntosh, Jane R. (2005). Ancient Mesopotamia: New Perspectives. Santa

AccessScience Editors. (2014). Sumerians. In AccessScience. McGraw-Hill

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