Final answer:
The spread of Sumerian ideas and technology largely started through trade, with surplus production and labor specialization leading to wider dissemination of innovations such as the wheel, plow, and bronze-making techniques.
Step-by-step explanation:
The spread of Sumerian ideas and technology to other civilizations primarily started through trade. As early civilizations developed in Mesopotamia, people began to produce surplus food and materials, leading to the growth of cities and the specialization of labor. This specialization in tasks such as farming, crafting, and conducting religious rituals created a reliance on the exchange of goods and services. Consequently, traders would carry not only physical goods but also ideas and technologies such as the wheel, plow, and bronze-making techniques across different regions. The Sumerian culture further spread during the Urukean expansion, where their material culture moved beyond Sumer itself. Warfare also contributed to the dissemination of Sumerian culture as city-states expanded their territories and came into contact with others, sometimes through peaceful methods like tribute and intermarriage, but also through conquest and conflict.
Therefore, while trade was the main vehicle for spreading Sumerian innovations, other factors such as warfare and the resulting cultural exchanges also played significant roles. Complex networks of trade routes and the demands of ruling classes for resources for their monumental construction projects and artistic endeavors further helped in the dissemination of Sumerian advancements throughout the Near and Middle East.