Mesopotamia Geography
What does Mesopotamia mean?
Land between rivers.
What does polytheism mean?
Belief in many gods.
What was the Mesopotamian writing system called?
Cuneiform.
Who ruled most Mesopotamian city-states?
Kings
What was the main job of most Mesopotamians?
Farming.
Who was at the top of Mesopotamia's social hierarchy?
Kings and nobles.
What two rivers flowed through Mesopotamia?
Tigris and Euphrates.
What were Mesopotamian temples called?
Ziggurats.
What did Mesopotamians write on?
Clay tablets.
What was Hammurabi famous for creating?
A written code of laws.
Name one crop grown in Mesopotamia.
Wheat, barley, or lentils.
What were the three main social classes in Mesopotamia?
Upper, middle, and lower classes.
What was the fertile region where Mesopotamia developed called?
The Fertile Crescent.
What shape did ziggurats resemble?
Stepped pyramids.
What invention helped people move heavy goods more easily?
The wheel.
What was Hammurabi's collection of laws called?
The Code of Hammurabi.
What is trade?
Exchanging goods with others.
Which social class included merchants and craftsmen?
Middle class.
What is a nomad?
A person who moves from place to place.
What was the main purpose of ziggurats?
To worship and honor the gods.
What tool was used to make cuneiform symbols?
A stylus.
How many laws were in the Code of Hammurabi?
282
What two animals did Mesopotamians raise for wool and milk?
Sheep and goats.
What jobs did many commoners have?
Farmers, fishermen, and craftsmen.
Why did nomads settle in Mesopotamia?
It had water and fertile soil for farming.
Who performed religious ceremonies in Mesopotamian temples?
Priests and priestesses.
What famous Mesopotamian king was the subject of an epic poem?
Gilgamesh.
What were Hammurabi's usual punishments for breaking the law
Harsh penalties or death.
Name one good Mesopotamians traded to obtain.
Wood, metal, or stone.
Who was at the bottom of the Sumerian social hierarchy?
Farmers and enslaved people.
What is irrigation?
A way of bringing water to crops.
Where were ziggurats commonly located in Sumerian city-states?
Near the center of the city.
How did the wheel make transportation easier?
It allowed people to move heavy goods using carts.
What famous phrase describes Hammurabi's punishments?
An eye for an eye.
What did Mesopotamians build to bring water to their crops?
Irrigation canals.
What is a social hierarchy?
A system that ranks people by their power and status.
What modern-day country contains much of ancient Mesopotamia?
Iraq
What did Mesopotamians believe their gods controlled?
Nature and everyday life.
What number system did Mesopotamians develop that we still use to measure time?
A system based on 60.
How was punishment was different for different people under Hammurabi's laws?
Punishments depended on social class.
Besides farming, what were two other important parts of Mesopotamia's economy?
Trade and manufacturing.
What jobs did enslaved people often perform in Sumer?
Building projects for palaces.
Why were the Tigris and Euphrates rivers important for farming?
They provided water and helped make the soil fertile.
Why did Sumerians spend so much time and wealth building ziggurats?
They believed the gods controlled their cities and wanted to honor them.
Why was cuneiform an important invention?
It allowed people to record information, communicate, and keep records.
Why was the Code of Hammurabi important to Mesopotamian government?
It established written rules and punishments to help maintain order.
How did growing extra food help Mesopotamia's economy?
It allowed people to trade food and work in jobs other than farming.
How was life different for nobles and commoners in Mesopotamia?
Nobles had more power and wealth, while commoners worked jobs like farming and crafting.