This essay outlines the reasons why the Sumerian civilization has had the most effect on modern culture out of all of the other ancient civilizations.

Western culture has been aided greatly by ancient civilizations. Many people take for granted concepts like the wheel or something as simple as the way they write. Those concepts were invented thousands of years ago by an ancient people to whom much success is owed. The Sumerians, who were particularly innovative inventors, gave modern culture many of those concepts. The Sumerians, whose civilization dawned in Mesopotamia circa 4200 B.C.E., are believed to have been …

…such as writing a letter, nearly everything in anyone's daily routine would be made impossible or nearly impossible if the Sumerians had not existed and invented what they did. Had they not existed and not developed the first form of government, life would be infinitely different; chaos would reign. Had they not existed and not paved the way for civilizations to come, people might still be nomads, hunters and gatherers who are fortunate to survive.