Geography
Where was Sumer located?
In Mesopotamia.
What was a Ziggurat?
A rectangular stepped tower with a temple in Sumer
What was the ruler of Ancient Egypt called?
A pharaoh
Where was writing first invented?
Sumer
What is the name of the major river running through Egypt?
The Nile River
What two rivers bounded Mesopotamia?
The Tigris and the Euphrates
What does polytheism mean?
Believing in many gods
Who ruled Sumer?
A series of kings.
What was the name of the first writing system in Sumer?
Cuneiform
Name 3 reasons the Nile was important for the development of Ancient Egypt
Trade, water for large-scale agriculture, rich nutrients for the soil through floods
Was Sumer a country?
No, it was a civilization
What was mummification?
Preserving the body in a ritual way
They were centers for trade and social life.
What was the name of the writing system used in Egypt for important purposes?
Hieroglyphics
How was rainfall important for the growth of Ancient Egyptian civilization
Seasonal rainfall allowed for the development of large scale agriculture & the storage of water for slower irrigation over time.
Why do civilizations settle beside rivers?
They have water for growing plants and raising animals, they can fish in the river and the soil is fertile.
Who practiced mummification?
Mostly the upper classes in Ancient Egypt
Name 2 important things the government did in Ancient Egypt
Collect taxes, direct people to build important monuments, improve agriculture
What was the material used to write on in Ancient Egypt?
Was Lower Egypt closer to or farther from the Mediterranean?
Closer.
What is the term for independent cities which have their own government?
City-states
Why was mummification important?
To ensure the deceased person passed on to the afterlife
What other parts of the world were connected to Egypt through trade?
Mesopotamia, Greece, Sicily
What is a civilization?
A big group of people who live together in cities or towns, sharing the same language, laws, and ways of life, like building cities, making art, and creating governments
Why do Lower Egypt and Upper Egypt have these names?
Upper Egypt, although farther south, was at a higher elevation.