Mesopotamia Geography
The land of Ancient Mesopotamia is between what two rivers?
Tigris & Euphrates River
Define city-state
Cities, like small countries, whom ruled their land independently
Who makes up the Upper Class of Ancient Mesopotamia?
Kings, priests, warriors, government officials.
Who unified Mesopotamia under as leader of Akkad?
Sargon
What written language did Ancient Mesopotamians Create?
Cuneiform
Why is this area referred to as the Fertile Crescent?
It's Greek translation is the land between two rivers.
What was the first Mesopotamian civilization to exist?
Sumer Civilization
Who makes up the middle class of Sumerian society?
Farmers, artisans, merchants, and traders
Which Mesopotamian empire rose to power and is famous for writing strict laws?
Amorites of Babylon
What famous story is considered oldest text of the world?
the Epic of Gilgamesh
Rich Particles of dirt which fertilized soil
Silt
In Ancient Mesopotamia, the Sumerians practiced polytheism. What does Polytheism mean?
The belief in multiple gods
Who makes up the Lower Class of Ancient Mesopotamia?
Slaves & criminals
What was one of the world's oldest laws called?
the Hammurabi Code
List a few Sumerian inventions
Wheels, sailboats, bronze
Define natural levee and its importance.
Canals which channel river water into fields (irrigation). It allowed them to control the problem of seasonal floods.
What was built in city-states to honor gods?
Ziggurat
This type of government means rule by one, and the power was inherited or passed down.
Why did the Mesopotamians need to build walls around their villages?
Monarchy
Ruthless empire with an army of 50,000 troops
Assyrian
List a few Sumerian contributions to mathematics
geometry, multiplication & division tables, counting system to track time.
Define silt and it’s importance
Rich particles of dirt carried by rivers which fertilized soil
In later years, city-states became ruled by kings, what was their claim to power?
God
Define Scribes
Those who recorded everyday life and kept record of crops and trade
How did kings maintain control over large empires?
Dividing them into provinces
This type of government means rule by one, and the power was inherited or passed down.
monarchy