More than 5,000 years ago, in the cradle of civilization, the ancient Sumerians of Mesopotamia (today Iraq) left a legacy that still amazes historians and scientists. This people, known for being a pioneer in writing, mathematics and social organization, had a knowledge of the cosmos that defies our understanding of antiquity. Did you know that the Sumerians already drew the solar system with the sun in the center, thousands of years before the Greeks? This fascinating finding, engraved on clay tablets, reveals a surprisingly advanced worldview.
The Sumerians not only observed the sky, but they studied it with precision that seems almost impossible for their time. Its astronomical records, written in cuneiform writing, show a deep understanding of celestial movements. They created star maps and registered the visible planets, suggesting that they knew the basic structure of our solar system. This knowledge, which preceded the heliocentric ideas of Copernicus by millennia, raises intriguing questions: how did they achieve such a feat without modern telescopes?
In addition to their astronomical skill, the Sumerians developed a structured educational system, an organized government and a complex religion that linked the celestial phenomena with everyday life. His fascination with the cosmos was not only scientific, but also spiritual: Sumerian astrology would lay the foundations for the practices we know today. Even the concept of time, divided into units that we still use, such as 60 minutes of an hour, has roots in its sexagesimal mathematics.
This Sumerian legacy invites us to reflect on the intelligence of ancient civilizations. While we often give credit to the Greeks for the foundations of modern science, the Sumerians had already sat crucial bases. His clay tablets, which have survived millennia, are a testimony of their genius and a window to the past that continues to inspire debates in the scientific community.
Why is this knowledge better known? Maybe because Mesopotamia’s stories have been overshadowed by other cultures in history books. However, rediscovering the Sumerians connects us with our deepest roots and reminds us that the desire to explore the universe is as old as humanity itself. Share this fascinating story and let us marvel together for the secrets of the cosmos that the Sumerians already deciphered thousands of years ago.
