Beyond the basic elements of civilization, what did the Sumerians add to future societies and cultures? A) patriarchy and job specialization
B) social classes and agricultural surplus
C) clearly-defined government and large cities
D) raising livestock and monumental architecture

B) social classes and agricultural surplus

Explanation:

For better or the worse, the Sumerian contribution to the societies and the cultures of the future was agricultural surplus and social classes. When we achieved the level of civilization that made it possible to create the surplus food we in turn made it possible for people to live in larger communities and thus the groundwork for the further development of society was created.

abraham lincoln  (february 12, 1809  – april 15, 1865) was an american statesman, politician, and lawyer who served as the 16th  president of the united states  from 1861 until  his assassination  in april 1865. lincoln led the nation through the  american civil war, its bloodiest war and its greatest moral, constitutional, and political crisis.[2][3]  he preserved the  union,  abolished slavery, strengthened the  federal government, and modernized  the u.s. economy.

i believe it would influence their own way of understanding things. it shall be a foundation where they can draw or start an argument.   historians are also  scientists that  have their tools of analysis and expertise to unlock a variety of difficulties such as relationships of man, origin, politics, economy, and culture. based on facts and understanding on these areas, they may shade light to extract ideas and develop options to validate a hypothesis or debunk it.