Final answer:
Sumer was distinguished from previous societies by five characteristics: significant technological advancements, a stable, agrarian population, the rise of true urban centers, the creation of an early writing system (cuneiform), and increased social stratification.
Step-by-step explanation:
The five characteristics that set Sumer apart from earlier human societies are:
- Technological Advancements: The Sumerians of the fourth millennium BCE saw massive technological innovation including the manufacturing of bronze, the wheel, plow, and irrigation techniques. These furthered agricultural production and contributed to population growth and urbanization.
- Population Stability: Unlike the nomadic lifestyles of previous societies, the Sumerians established a stable, settled population sustained by agriculture. This stability enabled the development of a deep, distinct culture.
- Urbanization: Sumer was home to some of the world's first great cities such as Uruk – a clear departure from previous settlements.
- Writing System: The Sumerians invented cuneiform, one of the world's earliest writing systems, providing the means for laws, religious texts, and commercial transactions to be recorded and exchanged.
- Increasing Social Stratification: As Sumerian society evolved, labor became specialized and society became more stratified, characteristics of early civilizations not seen in societies based on hunting and gathering.
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