The book systematically presents the historical trajectory of Sumerian civilization from the rise of city-states to its demise, with a focus on the political system and social reforms of historical sites such as Eridu and Uruk. Through the three landmark achievements of cuneiform script, roller printing, and tower temples, it analyzes the civilization's pioneering contributions in terms of writing system, legal system, and architectural technology. It is important to note that the manuscript includes translations of original documents such as the Lugalbanda while combines chronology and archaeological images to restore the full picture of Mesopotamian civilization. This book also discusses the early relationship between the origin of words and economic activities. It integrates historical and archaeological perspectives, presenting the global influence accelerated with advances in Sumerian civilization from the end of the 4000s till 1800s.

Yushu Gong is full professor at the Center for Oriental Literature Studies, Peking University, and at the Department of Western Asian Studies, School of Foreign Languages, Peking University. He currently serves as a member of the Editorial Board of Foreign Literatures, a specially invited researcher and council member of the Comparative Research Center for Chinese Civilization and Ancient World Civilizations at the Chinese Academy of History, and a mentor at the Collaborative Innovation Institute for Neglected Studies, University of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. Prof. Gong has published extensively in Chinese, English and German in renowned international journals such as World History, Journal of Ancient Civilizations, Journal of Peking University, Foreign Literatures, Oriental Studies, Zeitschrift für Assyriologie, Wiener Zeitschrift für die Kunde des Morgenlandes, Die Welt des Orients.

His major publications include: Die Namen der Keilschriftzeichen (2000, AOAT 268, Ugaric-Verlag Münster), Studien zur Bildung und Entwicklung der Keilschriftzeichen (1993, Verlag Dr. Kovac), History of Archaeology in Western Asia (2002, Cultural Relics Publishing House), Comparative Studies of Ancient Writing in Sumer, Egypt and China (2009, co authored with Yan Haiying and Ge Yinghui, Science Press), The Epic of Gilgamesh (translated and annotated by Gong Yushu, Commercial Press, 2021) and The Sumerian Civilization (Yilin Press, 2024).