The rise and fall of history’s first empire - Soraya Field Fiorio
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History’s first empire rose out of a hot, dry landscape, without rainfall to nourish crops, without trees or stones for building. In spite of all this, its inhabitants built the world’s first cities, with monumental architecture and large populations— and they built them entirely out of mud. Soraya Field Fiorio details the rise and fall of the Sumerian empire.
The Sumerians built the world’s earliest high cultures. History generally looks at some Sumerian inventions––writing, the school system, irrigation, complex architecture––as positive. But with larger societies came some negative traits, too. Bureaucracy, taxes, and social stratification––including the invention of slavery––originated in Sumer as well. In your opinion, is it possible to build a complex civilization without social hierarchy? Explain your reasoning.
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Meet The Creators
- Educator Soraya Field Fiorio
- Director Tomás Pichardo-Espaillat
- Narrator Susan Zimmerman
- Sound Designer Cem Misirlioglu, Mikey Coltun
- Music Cem Misirlioglu, Mikey Coltun
- Director of Production Gerta Xhelo
- Editorial Director Alex Rosenthal
- Producer Bethany Cutmore-Scott
- Editorial Producer Elizabeth Cox
- Fact-Checker Joseph Isaac
