One can easily understand the development of several innovations like the wheel and potter’s wheel, as these would increase productivity; it’s a key human motivator. With more innovations, a greater variety of tools could be developed to improve the quality of life. Trade by land and sea developed for and motivated by a need to find greater resources, since Sumer itself didn’t have as many advantageous resources as its neighbors. Finally, at least in terms of why the Sumerians began to keep lists for a variety of purposes, making order out of chaos drove them. We can relate to that.
