Sumer’s Early Dynastic period begins ca.

2900 BCE and includes such legendary figures as Enmerkar and Gilgamesh—who are supposed to have reigned shortly before the historic record opens ca.

2700 BCE, when the now deciphered syllabic writing starts to develop from the early pictograms.

The center of Sumerian culture remains in southern Mesopotamia, even though rulers soon begin expanding into neighboring areas, and neighboring Semitic groups adopt much of Sumerian culture for their own.The earliest Dynastic king on the Sumerian king list whose name is known from any other legendary source is Etana, 13th king of the first Dynasty of Kish.

The earliest king authenticated through archaeological evidence is Enmebaragesi of Kish (ca.

26th century BCE), whose name is also mentioned in the Gilgamesh epic—leading to the suggestion that Gilgamesh himself might have been a historical king of Uruk.

As the Epic of Gilgamesh shows, this period was associated with increased violence.

Cities become walled, and increased in size as undefended villages in southern Mesopotamia disappear.

(Gilgamesh is credited with having built the walls of Uruk).