Vocabulary
Means worshiping multiple gods
or deities.
Polythesteistic
____________ worked for the nobles and palaces. They were
farmers, fishermen, and crafters.
Commoners
This group included Priests, Officials, and Royals. They were a very small group compared to the total population.
Nobles
Why did nomads decide to stay in Mesopotamia? What was unique about the location?
Humans need food and water in order to survive. Mesopotamia was known as “The land between two rivers”. The land had rich soil and many crops. It was to sustain life and civilization.
Wedge-shaped writing on clay
tablets -writing system of
Sumerians.
Cuneiform
This is a strict and harsh set of laws in
ancient Mesopotamia.
Cuneiform was the first ____________.
Known recorded language.
They were the workers for the nobles and palaces. The commoners and craftsmen held jobs involving farming, fishing, and crafting.
Commoners / Craftsmen
15.) Describe the Sumerian economy.
Economy was based on farming. Trade and industry became important later. The supplies the Sumerians used and traded included stone, wood, mud, clay, reeds, rivers, soil and crops.
_____________ was located in the Fertile Crescent.
Mesopotamia
A temple where Sumerians
believed gods and goddesses
ruled the city.
Ziggurat
An epic poem from Mesopotamia time describes the life of a legendary king named.
Gilamesh
90% of the Population were farmers. Slaves mostly worked on Palace building projects and were owned by the palace.
Farmers / Slaves
Describe the Code of Hammurabi. Give at least three facts about the laws.
The Code of Hammurabi was a collection of 282 laws. They were severe and strict, with rules that can be described as “An eye for an eye”. Hammurabi was a cruel and unjust leader, causing the Sumerians to live in fear. Punishments were distinguishable between different classes, individuals were not treated equally. If caught stealing from the temple or from court, a Sumerian would be put to death and also the person who received the stolen item would be put to death as well.
A wonderer.
Nomad
Mesopotamia was known as the
land between the two rivers.
What were the most prominent buildings in the Sumerian city states? What were their purpose?
The most prominent buildings in the Sumerian city states were the Ziggurats. The Sumerians believed that the gods and goddesses were in charge of the cities. Sumerians worshipped them and devoted their wealth to the Ziggurat temples. The buildings were at the center of the city states.
An area of land in the Middle East,
located around the Tigris and
Euphrates Rivers.
The Fertile Crescent
______________ were developed between 3300
3300-3000 B.C.
City-States
Describe how the invention of the wheel changed society:
The first wheel created by the Sumerians was not a perfect invention. It was later used for irrigation, milling, and pottery making. It changed society because it is now used for almost all forms of transportation and machinery. The invention of the wheel is considered one of the greatest achievements of man kind.