Vocabulary
What were the strict set of laws in Mesopotamia that were written by a harsh king called?
The Code of Hammurabi
What was the highest social class in the Sumerian social structure?
Nobles
Mesopotamia was located in the ____________.
Fertile crescent
The Sumerian economy was based on _______.
farming
Mesopotamia is located in present-day _________.
Iraq
What was the wedge-shaped written language that the Sumerians used called?
Cuneiform
Which social group was typically owned by the nobles/palaces?
farmers/slaves
An epic poem from Mesopotamian time describes the life of a legendary king named __________.
Gilgamesh
The Sumerians were ________, meaning they worshiped multiple gods/goddesses.
polytheistic
What does the fertile crescent look like today? Why?
The Tigris and Euphrates rivers have dried up due to large irrigation projects.
What does it mean to be polytheistic?
To worship multiple gods
Which social class made up the largest percentage of the Sumerian population?
farmers/slaves
Cuneiform was the first ____________.
written language
Where were ziggurats typically built?
In the center of the city-states
How many planets are in our solar system?
8
What was a ziggurat?
A temple where Sumerians believed gods and goddesses ruled the city
Which social class worked for the nobles/palaces?
Commoners/craftsmen
Which two rivers was Mesopotamia located in between?
Tigris and Euphrates
What did the Sumerians use to write on?
Clay tablets
What letter is not included in any of the 50 U.S. state names?
Q
What was the fertile crescent?
An area of land located between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers that was known for its rich soil
What types of jobs did the commoners/craftsmen do for the nobles/palaces?
fishing, farming, crafting
___________ were developed between 3300 - 3000 B.C.?
City-states
What were the pyramid-like structures that were built by Sumerians in dedication to gods/goddesses?
Ziggurats
What is the name of a group of stars that form an imaginary picture?
A constellation
What is a nomad?
A wanderer; Someone who moves around from place-to-place with no permanent residence
What percentage of the Sumerian population was made up of farmers/slaves?
90%
Why did the nomads decide to settle in Mesopotamia? What was unique about the location?
Nomads decided to settle in Mesopotamia because its location between the two rivers provided rich, fertile soil that was good for farming. They had access to fresh water and were able to grow the things they needed to survive.
Describe the Sumerian economy in detail.
What type of fish is Nemo?
A clownfish