Sumerian City-States
What invention did the Sumerians use to record information?
Cuneiform writing
Who created the first empire in history?
Sargon of Akkad
Who was Babylon’s most famous ruler?
Hammurabi
Which two rivers were central to Mesopotamian life?
Tigris and Euphrates
What is another name for the “Cradle of Civilization”?
Mesopotamia
What was the main building in a Sumerian city-state used for religion and storage?
Ziggurat
Around what year did Sargon build his empire?
Around 2300 BCE
What was Hammurabi’s greatest contribution?
Hammurabi’s Code (set of laws)
What does “Mesopotamia” mean?
Land between the rivers
Which empire came first: Babylon or Akkad?
Akkad
What made Sumerian city-states vulnerable to conquest?
Constant warfare among them
What was one strategy Sargon used to control his empire?
Appointing loyal officials/governors
Why was Hammurabi’s Code important?
It established rules of justice and order for society
Why was Mesopotamia called the Fertile Crescent?
Because its soil was rich and good for farming
Why was writing important for empires?
To keep records, laws, and communication
Which Sumerian invention improved farming efficiency?
The plow
How far did Sargon’s empire stretch?
From the Persian Gulf to the Mediterranean Sea
Give one example of a law from Hammurabi’s Code.
“An eye for an eye” (punishment matched the crime)
What natural challenge did the rivers often cause?
Unpredictable flooding
Which empire is known for its harsh but organized set of laws?
Babylon (Hammurabi’s Code)
Explain one reason why city-states often fought each other.
Disputes over land and water rights
Why was Sargon’s empire important for later civilizations?
It set the model for future empires to unify city-states under one rule
How did Hammurabi’s Code influence later civilizations?
It inspired legal systems that used written laws to govern society
How did Mesopotamians adapt to their environment?
Built irrigation systems and canals to control water
Which empire do you think left the greatest legacy and why?
Open-ended; students defend their choice (Sumer = writing, Akkad = first empire, Babylon = laws)