What is sumer vs elam?

Sumer and Elam were two ancient civilizations that were present in the Near East region, around modern-day Iraq and Iran. While both civilizations had developed similar social and cultural structures, there were some notable differences between them.

Sumer was the first civilization to emerge in Mesopotamia around 4000 BCE. It had numerous city-states, like Ur, Uruk, and Lagash, which were governed by a king or a council of elders. Sumerian society was structured hierarchically, with the ruling elites at the top followed by priests, merchants, and farmers. The Sumerians are also renowned for their advances in sciences, arts, and literature, including the invention of the wheel, the first form of writing, and the development of a complex legal system.

On the other hand, Elam was a civilization that emerged in southwest Iran around 3000 BCE. It was a powerful kingdom with a centralized system of governance and a well-developed military. The Elamites were known for their advanced metalworking and pottery techniques, and their architecture was influenced by the neighboring Mesopotamian civilization. The Elamites are also known for defeating the powerful Babylonian Empire multiple times and contributing to the fall of the Assyrian Empire.

Summing up, both the Sumerians and the Elamites were advanced in their own ways and contributed to the development of human civilization. However, the differences between them lay in their geographic location, structure of governance, and cultural practices.