Geography of Mesopotamia
What two rivers gave Mesopotamia its name?
The Tigris and Euphrates Rivers
What is the world’s first known form of writing?
Cuneiform
Who created the world’s first empire?
Sargon of Akkad
What system helped Persian kings control distant provinces?
Satraps (governors)
What was the connection between Persian sports and warfare?
Sports like hunting and horseback riding trained soldiers for battle
What does “Fertile Crescent” mean?
A rich, crescent-shaped area where farming first developed
What was the purpose of ziggurats?
Temples used for worship and to show the city’s wealth and power
What was the purpose of Hammurabi’s Code?
To maintain order and justice throughout Babylon
What major road connected the Persian Empire?
The Royal Road
What is a relief sculpture?
Artwork carved from stone that projects from the background
Why was farming difficult in Mesopotamia?
Irregular flooding and little rainfall
What invention improved Sumerian farming productivity?
The plow
What did Nebuchadnezzar II build to beautify Babylon?
The Hanging Gardens
What water system carried water underground to dry areas?
The Qanat system
What did Persian art and music often celebrate?
Kings’ victories and royal power (propaganda)
What human innovation helped control the flow of river water to crops?
Irrigation and levees
Define “city-state.”
A city with its own ruler and farmland, acting like an independent country
What challenge did all Mesopotamian empires face?
Controlling large territories and keeping them united
How did Persian rulers use bureaucracy to govern effectively?
They divided the empire into provinces with local governors who reported to the king
This famous “trick shot,” named after the Parthians, involved a horseback rider pretending to flee before turning around to shoot arrows at the pursuing enemy.
What is the Parthian shot?
How did geography influence the rise of Sumerian city-states?
Open plains made farming possible but also left cities vulnerable to invasion
How did Hammurabi’s Code help unify his empire?
It established consistent laws and justice across the empire
How did the Assyrians maintain power over their empire?
Through strong military organization and fear
What was Zoroastrianism’s main belief about good and evil?
The world is a struggle between truth (Ahura Mazda) and lies (evil)
What is one lasting contribution of ancient Persia still used today?
Use of multiple languages in government communication; qanat irrigation systems