Land Between the Rivers
What is Mesopotamia?
word, meaning "between two rivers"; region where Sumerian civilization began
What are City-states?
the basic units of Sumerian Civilization; state with political and economic control
Define: Polytheistic
belief in many gods
Define: Cuneiform
"Wedged shaped" system of writing
Around 3000 BC, the Summerians invented this round device that lead to wheeled carts.
wheel
What are the Tigris and the Euphrates?
two rivers that flowed through Mesopotamia
What was mud used for?
used to build bricks
Mesopotamia identified nearly how many gods and goddess?
3,000
What did writers press a reed stylus into to to make wedge-shaped marks?
clay tablets
Sundial
What is the Fertile Crescent?
arc of land stretches from the Mediterranean Sea to the Persian Golf
In 2700 BC, Urk had how many people?
50,000
Define: Ziggurat
massive stepped tower dedicated to a city's chief god or goddess
Who are scribes?
people who served as copyist, teachers, and jurists
The Sumerian number system was based on this number, which is why an hour has this many minutes?
60
What is Silt?
layers of materials left from flowing river; enriches the soil
Sumerian cities were surrounded by _______, with defense towers every 30-35 ft.
walls
Define: Theocracy
Government established by divine authority
What is the Epic of Gilgamesh?
an epic poem that recorded the exploits of the king and his friend
The Sumerians were the first to make this metal by combining copper and tin.
Bronze
What are irrigation and drainage ditches?
farmers dug these two kinds of ditches to control the flow of the rivers and grow crops regularly
What two types of building did Sumerians invent using mud bricks?
Arch and Dome
What are irrigation projects used for?
What does Immortality mean?
"everlasting life"; living forever
What were the three major social groups?
nobles, commoners, and slaves