Geography of Mesopotamia
What does "Mesopotamia" mean?
Land between the rivers
Who were the first people to settle in Mesopotamia?
The Sumerians.
Who was the leader that established the first empire in Mesopotamia?
Sargon of Akkad
Who were the Assyrians?
A Semitic-speaking people who used iron weapons to build an empire in Mesopotamia.
What is cuneiform?
The writing system developed by the Sumerians.
Which two rivers is Mesopotamia located between?
Tigris and Euphrates Rivers.
What type of religion did the Sumerians practice?
Polytheism, the belief in many gods.
What is the Code of Hammurabi?
The first written code of law, based on the principle of “an eye for an eye.”
What was one military tactic the Assyrians used?
Smashing dams, destroying towns, and setting crops on fire.
What invention did the Sumerians create to improve transportation?
The wheel.
In which modern-day countries was Mesopotamia located?
Iraq, Syria, Turkey, Lebanon, Israel
What is a city-state?
An independent state consisting of a city and its surrounding territory, with its own government and laws.
Who were the Amorites, and what did they do?
A people who invaded the Sumerian civilization and established the Babylonian Empire.
What two metals were the Assyrians seeking to control?
Copper and tin.
What epic piece of literature was written in ancient Mesopotamia?
The Epic of Gilgamesh.
What defines a civilization?
- Cities
- Specialized labor
- Government
- Arts
- Science
- Religious beliefs
- Written language
What structure served as the religious and economic center of Sumerian cities?
The Ziggurat.
What city was the capital of the Babylonian Empire?
Babylon.
What was the capital city of the Assyrian Empire known for its beauty and libraries?
Nineveh.
What system of mathematics did the Sumerians develop that we still use today?
A base-60 number system (leading to 60-minute hours and 360-degree circles).
What is the Fertile Crescent?
A region in the Middle East known for its fertile land and the birthplace of early civilizations.
Name two major architectural achievements of the Sumerians.
The arch and the dome.
What was one of the mathematical achievements of the Babylonians?
The division of the circle into 360 degrees and the development of algebra and geometry.
How did the Assyrian Empire fall?
It was conquered by the Chaldeans and the Medes in 612 BC.
What advancement in agriculture did the Sumerians invent?
The plow and seed drill.