Final answer:
The wheel is an important Sumerian invention used for transportation and agriculture, which played a pivotal role in the rise of cities and the advancement of civilization during the Early Bronze Age.
Step-by-step explanation:
One of the most important inventions that originated in Sumer is the wheel. The wheel was used primarily for transportation and agriculture, which significantly advanced these fields. The wheel was invented after 4000 BCE during the Early Bronze Age and marked a period of heightened technological innovation in Sumer.
The utilization of the wheel expanded agricultural production and goods distribution, leading to population growth and the rise of cities. Not only was it instrumental in the development of functional wagons and chariots, but it also played a crucial role in the Sumerian's engineering achievements, such as the construction of ziggurats and irrigation systems.
Moreover, the wheel's introduction helped switch the primary material for tools and weapons from stone to bronze, establishing the beginning of the Bronze Age in Mesopotamia. It remained the premier material for nearly three thousand years. The invention of the wheel by the ancient Sumerians demonstrates their inventiveness and capacity for engineering, significantly contributing to technological progress in human history.