The terrain in Sumeria was dry and arid. Flat and long expanses of desert-coloured terrain should be used. The canal systems were quite well done and should be represented by long, straight bodies of water. Canals on 15mm tables should be 1/2 -2 inches wide, and perhaps double this for 25mm scale. Remember that the canals were for irrigation purposes, so tilled and well-cultivated fields were common. The typical farm was capable of growing many crops that included barley, wheat, millet, emmer, and a number of vegetables and spices. Barley however was one of the most profitable crops as it was used in the making of beer, which the Sumerians consumed in great quantities. A belt of trees that were used to shelter the crops from the withering sun and the harsh winds protected the fields of farms.

The most common tree in Sumeria was the date palm. Not only could this tree be used for protecting the fields, but it also had an economic value as well. Raising animals was also common on Sumerian farms. The most common livestock raised were oxen, sheep, goats, and pigs.

Small towns located at cross-roads or agricultural areas should only be 3-6 buildings in size. The structures should be smallish, with flat roofs and plaster type or simple brick walls. The Sumerians did use sundried convex mud bricks for construction that proved to be quite strong. Structures in small towns should be painted in simple neutral colours with very little or no decoration or ornamentation.

If modelling larger cities then much more creative freedom can be exercised. The focal point or outstanding feature of a city was the temple or ziggurat. The temple was situated on a high terrace, which was gradually developed into a massive staged tower (ziggurat). Another central feature in these cities was the royal palace. These structures were always built from brick, and lavishly decorated partly to help take away from the bricks plain and drab appearance. Patterns of zigzags, lozenges, and triangles can be painted onto these structures, and the base colours are always brighter than those of standard buildings.

The most common base colours used on palaces and temples were various shades of blue, along with brownish or red-brown earth tones. All of the trim on these structures is of a bright contrasting colour, or more often, gold. Large mosaics and paintings of Sumerian life were also used to decorate the walls of these structures. The temple was at one time the most lavishly decorated building in the city, but with an increase in the secular powers and wealth of the king and other nobles the palace soon began to rival the temple in size and lavish ornamentation.

The sacred and royal sections of Sumerian cities were the only areas that were organised along reasonable lines. The rest of the city was largely unorganised having no rhyme or reason as to how streets or sections of town were to be laid out. The unpaved streets were very narrow and winding, often ending in blind alleys that led to well hidden houses. A typical city block may have large houses and small mixed together along with one, two, or three-storied structures. Most of the buildings even in larger cities had flat roofs, though the peaked roofs along with the dome were known. Narrow lanes were sheltered by colourful awnings and open stalls or booths and reminded one of a Middle Eastern bazaar. Typical professions of the common citizen were scribes, doctors, various merchants, boatmen, masons, carpenters, architects, smiths, jewellers, and potters.

If streets were paved it was usually in the town squares of the more wealthy city-states. The town square was very appealing to the young as well as the pleasure seeker. Feasts and other celebrations were often held in these areas, and during the day an open-air market was set-up here.

The average Sumerian house was one or two stories high and consisted of several rooms around an open courtyard. The typical house was white-washed both inside and outside.

Massive walls and large gates always protected large and important Sumerian cities. The walls of these cities were usually painted in plain and drab colours with no decoration. Common defences of city walls in this period are limited to the ramparts being manned by slingers and javelineers.

Since trade was of monumental importance to the Sumerians, wellprotected roads and rivers were a must. Roads leading into major cities will be busy with caravan or regular trade traffic. Port areas are usually located out of the walls of cities but are sometimes inside the city walls. The various ports will be busy and a large number of sea going vessels will always be present.

This section should be very helpful for you in designing scenery and buildings and towns for Sumerian wargames campaigns.

SCENARIOS

There are a number of scenarios that can be used for Sumerian wargames. The period of the civil wars between the various city-states can prove quite enjoyable. If Sumerian vs. Sumerian is what is desired then two armies from the list above should be used or perhaps one that has been slightly modified, trying to keep them close to the same point values.

As we have seen in this article, many wars erupted over land as well as water. A specific historical scenario is given in this section for a refight between two warring Sumerian city-states. The scenario is as follows:

The year is 2,500 B.C. the ruler of Sumeria was a king called Mesilim and took the title King of Kish. Mesilim, according to the historical evidence was king of the entire land. An inscribed mace-head of his has been found in the city of Lagash. Mesilim was the responsible arbitrator in a bitter border dispute between the city-states of Lagash and Umma.

Roughly a generation before Mesilim ascended the throne around the year 2,450 B.C., a man named Ur-Nanshe established himself king of Lagash and founded a dynasty that would last for 5 generations. Ur-Nanshe left behind a number of inscriptions on tablets, door sockets, nails, and bricks. These inscriptions record his building of ship canals, temples, and holy statues. Both of the city-states of Lagash and Umma had declared their loyalty and faith to Mesilim as king of the entire land. Mesilim then proceeded to measure off a boundary between the two cities in accordance with information the oracle of Sataran (the chief Sumerian deity in charge of settling disputes) had given him. Moreover he erected and inscribed a stele to mark the new boundary and to prevent future disputes.

The decision, which was presumably agreed to by both parties, seemed to favour Lagash over Umma. Not long after the new boundary had been set Ush an ensi of Umma violated the terms of the agreement. Ush had proceeded to the border and then ripped out of the ground the stele that had been placed there by Mesilim. This gesture was done to show that he (Ush) was not bound by its terms and then crossed the border and entered the territory belonging to Lagash. The lands that belonged to Lagash known as the Guedinna were seized and taken by Umma. These lands remained in the control of Umma until Eannatum the grandson of Ur-Nanshe had taken them back by defeating Umma in battle. He then re-established a border that was clearly to the advantage of Lagash. He then re-erected the stele of Mesilim as a warning and then built a number of shrines to Sumerian deities. As an insurance policy against future incursions by Umma he dug a ditch that followed the new boundary, and set up a strip of fallow land on the Umma side of the boundary as a kind of no-man's land.

This is just one such scenario that can be played as a Sumerian wargame. The history of this land has many references to conflicts such as these. Any battle between any city-state can be done and is probably historically accurate as well. The above scenario has merely been included as an aid to writing your own scenarios.

EPILOGUE

This article has been an attempt at condensing the history of Sumeria into an easily read and accessible format. I hope that it has been helpful and informative in its scope. As an after note I do not believe that the land known as Sumeria fell to the Akkadians simply due to the successful employment of the bow by the latter. Yes, the bow did create an advantage but not such an advantage that the Sumerians were easily defeated. What seems to be forgotten is the fact that the Akkadians were a warlike people where war was almost regarded as a national pastime. The Sumerians on the other hand were a highly intellectual people, and as such a warlike people will always be victorious over an intellectual people in a test of arms. Also let us not forget that, even in defeat, the Sumerians were not really defeated.

Their victors always absorbed their customs, laws, and traditions and, in a way, the Sumerians were never really conquered. The Sumerian culture was rich, and enduring and even when Sumer fell for the final time it was never forgotten, for when Sumer fell the history of Babylon began, a Semitic state that was built on a Sumerian foundation.

Army List

The following army list has been developed for use with the Melees Gloriosus ancient rules system, but is easily adaptable to any rules set.

ARMY LIST FOR THE SUMERIAN CITY-STATES
UNIT CLASS	UNIT SIZE	DESCRIPTION	WEAPONS	TROOP RATING	MORALE	COMBAT MODS	MORALE MODS
Battlewagon	1	Royal chariot of the King (CIC)	Royal mace, 2 quivers of spears	Elite	Special	+2	+2
Battlewagon	1 for each	Chariot of the Subordinate generals	2 quivers of spears	Elite	Special	+1	+1
Battlewagon	4	Royal guard unit	2 quivers of spears each	Veteran	9	+1	N/A
Battlewagon	4	Regular chariot	2 quivers of spears	Regular	7	0	N/A
Heavy infantry	18	Royal guard unit	Spear/shield	Elite	11	+2	+1
Heavy infantry	24 x 6	Regular troops	Spear/shield	Regular	7	0	N/A
Light infantry	18 x 2	Regular troops	Slings/dagger	Regular	7	0	N/A
Messenger corps	10	Raw	Slings/dagger	Raw	5	0	N/A

The royal command stand shall consist of 1 standard bearer, one trumpeter, and one drummer. These are attached to the royal battlewagon and all figures are on foot or may be in a chariot of their own.

Each sub-commander is allowed a personal standard as well as a musician.

Each unit of infantry above also requires a command stand of one standard bearer, one officer, and one musician.

Total number of figures for the Sumerian army listed above are:

10 Battlewagons with 20 total crew 2 men per wagon
162 Heavy infantry
36 Light infantry
10 Messengers
10 Command stands: 1 royal and 9 unit commands
248 total castings worth 1,612 points

Akkadian armies should be similar in make up substituting archers for slingers

The Sumerians

Historical Background
Civil Wars and the King Lists
Military Organization and Equipment
Wargaming Terrain and Scenarios