The African Origins Of Sumeria
According to recent archaeological evidence, the first settlers of Sumeria were from Africa. This is a startling revelation that has upended previous assumptions about the origins of this civilization. In this blog post, we will explore the evidence for the theory supporting the African origins of Sumeria and its implications for our understanding of African and world history.
The African Origins of Sumeria
The first settlers in Mesopotamia came from the south, most likely from Africa. The people of ancient Sumer were black Africans who migrated from Ancient Egypt up the Persian Gulf and into Mesopotamia around 4500 BCE. These early Africans brought with them their knowledge of agriculture, animal husbandry, and metalworking.
Sumerian culture is thought to have its roots in African cultures, specifically those of the Nile Valley. The Sumerians themselves claimed that their civilization was founded by a black man named Oannes who came out of the African continent and taught them how to write, farm, and build cities.
While there is no concrete evidence to support this claim, it is clear that the Sumerians had strong ties to Africa. The art and architecture of ancient Sumer show many similarities to those found in Africa, which suggest that the two cultures had significant contact with one another.
It is also worth noting that the name “Sumer” itself comes from an African word meaning “land of the blacks”. This further supports the idea that the Sumerians were originally a group of black Africans who migrated into Mesopotamia and established one of the world’s first civilizations.
A great deal of evidence supports the idea that the Sumerians were of African origin. The ancient city of Ur, for example, was located in an area that is now part of modern-day Sudan. The name “Ur” itself is derived from the Akkadian word for “city”, which itself is derived from the Sumerian word “uru”. This suggests that the Sumerians were already living in cities when they arrived in Mesopotamia.
The people of Ur were also known to have worshipped a goddess called Nannar, who was very similar to the Egyptian goddess Isis. This similarity suggests that the Sumerians may have come from a culture that was closely related to the Egyptians.
Other evidence for an African origin of the Sumerians includes their use of pictograms (rather than cuneiform) to write their language, as well as their use of boats rather than donkeys for transportation. These are both typically African characteristics.
Overall, there is a great deal of evidence to suggest that the Sumerians were indeed of African origin. This theory is further supported by the fact that many modern-day Africans share genetic similarities with the people of ancient Mesopotamia.
The Evidence Against an African Origin
There are many pieces of evidence that suggest that the Sumerians did not come from Africa. The most obvious is that they spoke a completely different language from any African language. They also had a different type of writing, called cuneiform, which was used in Mesopotamia for thousands of years before the first Africans arrived in the region.
Other evidence against an African origin for the Sumerians includes their physical appearance. The Sumerians were a light-skinned people with straight hair, while most Africans are dark-skinned with curly hair. In addition, the Sumerians were shorter than average for people from Africa.
Finally, there is no archaeological evidence to support the claim that the Sumerians came from Africa. There are no remains of early African settlements in Mesopotamia, and no African artifacts have been found in Sumerian sites.
The Debate Continues
The debate over the African origins of Sumeria is far from settled. Some scholars believe that the first settlers of Sumeria were from Africa, while others argue that the first settlers were from elsewhere in the Middle East. There is no clear evidence to support either claim, and the debate is likely to continue for many years to come.
Conclusion
It is fascinating to think about the African origins of Sumeria and how this ancient civilization has influenced the world today. Although we may never know for sure exactly where Sumeria came from, it is clear that this civilization has had a significant impact on both Africa and the wider world. From its early beginnings in the Fertile Crescent to its later influence on the development of Mesopotamia, Sumeria has left a lasting legacy on the history of our planet.