Mesopotamia 1
a group of many different lands under one ruler
empire
Tribute
a payment made to a ruler or state as a sign of surrender
irrigation
a way to supply dry land with water through ditches, pipes, or streams
an amount that is left over after a need has been met
surplus
caravan
a group of merchants traveling together for safety, usually with a large number of camels
city-state
an independent nation made up of a city and the land around it
a territory governed as a political district of a country or empire
province
a belief in more than one god
polytheism
cuneiform
a Sumerian writing system that used wedge-shaped marks made in soft clay
ziggurat
a pyramid-shaped tower with a temple at the top
What does Mesopotamia mean?
The land between two rivers
scribe
a person who copies or writes out documents; often a record keeper
What was the first Mesopotamian civilization?
Sumer
a long poem that tells the story of a hero
epic
True or False:
It was very easy to change social classes in Mesopotamia
False
How did the growth of surplus food in Mesopotamia lead to the development of Sumer’s first cities?
In ______________, because farmers were able to grow a _________________ and food was plentiful, not all people needed to farm. Some became ______________ who wove cloth or made pottery, tools, and weapons. As more goods were made, people began to live in places that favored __________________, and soon _______________ _______________ developed into ______________.
Sumer; surplus; artisans; trading; farming villages; cities
Sumerian poem written more than 4,000 years ago and still studied today, this story is called the _____________________________________.
Epic of Gilgamesh
What are the two rivers in Mesopotamia?
The Tigris and Euphrates
True or False:
Not everyone could afford land
True
What were the rivers used for?
Trade, transportation, irrigation
King for a Day
A commoner would take the place of the real king for a day during the celebration of their new year. Once the day was over, the commoner who played the king would be sacrificed to the gods for a prosperous year.
Why was the development of writing an important success of Sumer as a civilization? Explain.
The development of writing greatly aided government and trade in Sumer. The success of Sumer in these areas helped ensure the success of the civilization as a whole.
________________________ was a code of ________ laws that were designed to be ________ to all classes. The quote to describe this code of laws was "the ____________ shall not _______________ the _____________"
Hammurabi's Code; 282; fair; strong; oppress; weak
4 pieces of technology Sumer used and how each helped
cuneiform, epic, the wheel, sail boats, bronze, plow
What did King Nebuchadnezzar do to Babylon?
Rebuilt Babylon to make it the largest and richest city in the world
Created the Hanging Gardens of Babylon