Geography
Economy & Trade
Economy & Trade
Why did they have to resort to trade in order to develop their economy? How did the barter start?
THEY DID NOT HAVE ALL THE RESOURCES THEY NEEDED IN THEIR AREA (e.g. METAL AND WOOD)
Who were the most important leaders in government?
The king was the most important member of government. The kingdoms of Sumer were organized into city-states and the Kings ruled each city-states for the gods. They were assisted by priests, scribes, and nobles.
Where did the gods come from for the Sumerians?
NATURE.
The Sumerian religion has its roots in the worship of nature, such as wind and water. The forces of nature were originally worshiped as themselves. However, over time, the human form became associated with those forces. The gods in human form were now seen to have control over nature.
What were the main technological developments invented by the Sumerians? Why were they able to do so?
Sumerians invented or improved a wide range of technology, including the wheel, cuneiform script, arithmetic, geometry, irrigation, saws and other tools, sandals, chariots, harpoons.
SURPLUS OF FOOD.
What did most of their art works represent?
Sumerians developed art that was largely reflective of their religious beliefs (like many ancient civilizations). Some artistic archeological finds depict flora and fauna of the region.
How did they solve problems such as floods and droughts? How was this helpful for them?
SYSTEM OF IRRIGATION.
This helped people to grow healthy and strong crops: SURPLUS OF FOOD
How were Sumerian terriories organized?
They were independent cities, with their own government They were surrounded by walls for protection.
Were they polytheistic or monotheistic?
POLYTHEISTIC.
They worshipped 7 main gods who represented forces of nature.
Which of their inventions is considered to be their main cultural contribution?
WRITING.
What materials did the Sumerians use in their art works?
CLAY was the most abundant material and the clay soil provided the Sumerians with much of the material for their art including their pottery, terra-cotta sculpture, cuneiform tablets, and clay cylinder seals, used to securely mark documents or property.
What were the main geographical features of Ancient Mesopotamia?
Rivers and fertile soil.
What is a city-state?
Communities that include a city and its nearby farmland. The nearby land might include several smaller villages.
Is it true that in each city there was a god?
YES.
They were polytheistic and each city was specially protected by a God.
Why did they develop a form of writing? What kind of information did they communicate by writing? What was the system´s name?
To record and communicate different types of information about crops and taxes (keeping records).
CUNEIFORM.
What was the most important building in each city-state? Why?
The ZIGGURAT (religious purposes, and also economic reasons)
What were the names of the main rivers in Ancient Mesopotamia?
TIGRIS and EUPHRATES.
Why were kings adored in the Sumerian civilization?
Sumerian civilization believed that the kings got their stunning powers as a direct gift from the god. The king’s power was inherited. He was considered chosen by the god.
What was a ZIGGURAT?
A ziggurat is a temple in ancient Mesopotamia that is shaped like a pyramid. The purpose is to bring the temple closer to heaven, which is accessed from ground level by stairs.
They built temples with the shape of a stair to heaven called ZIGGURATS (the center of the city: prayers, offerings, and sacrifices to the gods were done there). They also stored food in the temple.
What materials did they use in order to write?
They did not have paper or ink or anything like that, so they used tools made of wood or stiff reeds to press the symbols into clay tablets.
Why was trade important for the development of Sumerian art?
Sumerian artisans had to import some materials like stone and wood into their area, so trade was certainly important to the civilization as it grew.
What other phrases can we use to make reference to the area of Ancient Mesopotamia?
“The Fertile Crescen”
“The Cradle of Civilization.”
“The Land Between the Rivers”
Why did military leaders replace priests as permanent rulers?
Because of nomads´ attacks, and fighting over fertile land between the cities.
How was Sumerian society divided?
SOCIAL DIVISION OF LABOUR: various people had various occupations, with a division of labour. There was a social hierarchy (kings, nobles, commoners, slaves, etc.)
Why was their system of irrigation so important for their economy and life in general?
This helped people to grow healthy and strong crops. The system of irrigation allowed the farmers to use the uncontrollable flood water to their advantage. The farmers used the water to water their crops whenever they needed it. Eventually, this enabled them to produce a SURPLUS OF FOOD.
What was it that made the art of the Sumerians slightly different from the rest?
It offered some of the earliest examples of human artists seeking to achieve some form of naturalism in their figures (depiction of realistic objects in a natural setting).