8. The Sumerians - Fall of the First Cities

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In the dusts of Iraq, the ruins of the world's first civilization lie buried.

This episode, we travel into the extremely distant past to look at the Sumerians. These ancient people invented writing and mathematics, and built some of the largest cities that the world had ever seen. Find out about the mystery of their origins, and learn how they rose from humble beginnings to form the foundation of all our modern societies. With myths, proverbs and even some recreated Sumerian music, travel back to where it all began, and find out how humanity's first civilization fell.

Credits:

Sound engineering by Thomas Ntinas

Voice Actors:

Jake Barrett-Mills
Rhy Brignell
Shem Jacobs
Nick Bradley
Emily Johnson

Photography of Sumerian artefacts by Osama Shukir Muhammed Amin FRCP(Glasg), CC-BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons.

[BlackXWolfe]

Is this real? Am I actually watching a quality documentary about the Sumerian civilization that isn't talking about aliens? Sir, you have my everlasting gratitude.

[kar-]

As an Iraqi citizen, I would really like to thank you for showing the true face of Iraq, full of civilization and history, contrary to what the media shows to everyone, that Iraq is a country of war and destruction. I would really like to thank you from the heart of a person who lives in Babylon Governorate (ancient Babylon).

[jeffhill]

I have now found my personal safe place. A place to escape from my (often) troubled mind, the beautiful narration in these videos, and the highest obtainable quality (humanely possible) poured into them…for all of these things I want to say thank you. I can not articulate what reprieve you have granted me during a very frightening time. Lost family/friends/pets continuously mounting in my life, I am ashamed to admit how pathetic my life has become. It’s like I don’t exist. ANYWAYS, embarrassedly I say all that about myself. But my sentiment is one of praise for you or the team that produced this video and this content. You have given me a soothing/joyous escape while I battle against my problems. THANK YOU

[danielscott]

This was absolutely outstanding. Hard to believe it's available for free on YouTube. Very high quality.

[AhmedAlKaabi]

I'm Iraqi, from South Iraq, when I travel north on the highway, I cannot be rested until I see the old Ziggurat of Ur looking at me from afar horizon. Thank you for this magnificent documentary.

[tarekchelmeran]

Being an Iraqi whois late dad was from Nineveh in northern Iraq, I remember how keen my dad was on visiting museums he could all around the world and taking video footage of their collections of Iraqi artifacts and archeological findings. This has been one of the most beautifully narrated, well paced to the point of being harmonious and scientifically rich documentaries I have ever had the pleasure of watching. The fact that you covered the Semetic/ Summerian symbiotic history, which is the history of the ancestors of virtually every Iraqi so well is such a feat!
My late Dad would would have been thrilled if he had the chance to watch it.
The cradle of civilization as we know it deserved this level of professionalism and scientific accuracy.
You have earnt a subscriber and my gratitude as a human being and an Iraqi. May you and your wonderful team be blessed always.

[waynebrown]

It's interesting how many people are hungry for true historical information such as this.
Keep sharing

[ebrennie]

I’m an educator and geologist. I just want to express immense gratitude for what you are doing here. Paul, your approach to education and knowledge transfer is what we need more of. It’s very immersive.

I am so appreciate that in every episode you discuss how the regional geology shaped a civilization. So few people understand how much the geology of this planet has influenced the shape of our entire species’s development.

And as an educator I also appreciate how you give your audience frames of reference. I do this a lot because in geology we deal with Deep Time and for many people this is such a hard thing for them to grasp. In this episode, I admire how you help people understand the spans of time we’re dealing with here by using landmarks they will already have a feel for - a sort of time sense. How writing, for example, is essentially as old as the extinction of the wooly mammoth, or how Sumer was already considered ancient 1300 years before Stonehenge was ever built, and Stonehenge is older than Rome and the story of Jesus. I wish and wish and wish more educators used approaches like this when transferring knowledge.

Thank you 🙏 so very much for all that your team does! This matters, even on those days when it might feel like it doesn’t.

[manow]

I love that this has 17 million views after 1 year. In a world of 1 minute video clips, to see a 2 hour and 27 minute documentary flourish makes me happy.

[tygrr]

I can only mourn that I had to turn 70 before I could see and learn this history. This was probably the best history lesson I have ever had.

[errrkt]

3 years later and i still return to revisit this often. best sumer content hands down.

[TangledEarth]

To this very day this documentary from top to bottom is by far the best source of information related to the Sumerian history.

[FluxDecay]

Sumerian civilization is so old that Babalon had legends about it, that is truly mind-blowing.

[Atroll]

As an Iraqi, we always speak of the ones who came before us. We always mention how great our country was once upon a time. We also mention how our land must be cursed because everytime the people rise, they fall and we fall very hard.. Thank you for this amazing and informational video.

[CD-lxsc]

My favorite one in the whole collection! This my eighth time watching it, I am so overjoyed Paul is sharing his gifts of bringing history to life with all of us. I really need to donate soon!

[slimhwo]

Me and my sons are currently studying Sumerian civilization---this thorough documentary was extraordinarily timely! Thank you for the quality edutainment. Though no amount of thanks would be adequate, we are eternally grateful.

[osamahmousa]

I’m originally from Sumerian marshes, and still using reeds to build houses as same as Sumerian houses, I wish you guys all can come over and see it by your own eyes.

[ellenrichardson]

I cannot tell you just how much I enjoy and am enriched by your episodes. Thank you

[connorvadams]

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for these videos. A reasonable argument could be made that these tales are bleak, but I find them strangely comforting. Your focus on an average human's perception of their empire and your expressive description of everyday life really help me to feel kinship with all people from all times. It's nice to gently remind yourself that political and economic upheaval happens all the time, and throughout it all most people simply wanted to survive and make the most of their life.

[Ghoststone]

This brings back memories of when the History Channel actually had history.
I have always had a deep affection for Sumerian culture.
Please make a show about Etruscan history.