Political
This legal record includes the famous "an eye for an eye".
What is the Code of Hammurabi?
These held the highest social power as they were thought to hold the power to pacify the Gods.
Most workers (farmers, carpenters, potters, etc) were paid and/or housed by this establishment.
What was the temple?
(religious authority also counts)
This famous story features an ancient King who attempted to learn the secret of immortality and other wise things from the gods.
What is the Epic of Gilgamesh?
This invention allowed for quicker and easier transportation such as carts and wagons.
What is the wheel and axle?
(Either is acceptable)
This founding king of Babylonia adopted Sumerian laws into a famous code.
Who was Hammurabi?
While this idea was definitely an issue, Mesopotamian women enjoyed more rights (ex. private income, education through tutors, property ownership) than women of other societies.
What is patriarchy?
This innovation in the workforce allowed Sumer and Babylon to have a variety of manufactured goods.
What is the division of labor?
These step-pyramid temples were built to honor local gods.
What are ziggurats?
This natural study allowed for the development of an accurate calendar.
What is astronomy?
This form of government in which each large urban area and the land surrounding are ruled independently was the norm of Sumeria.
What are city-states?
This American ideal of justice was not followed in Babylon as a carpenter could lose their life if their work fell on top and killed someone wealthy while a wealthy land owner would simply pay a fine if the carpenter was harmed while on the job.
What is equality under law?
Sumerians traded with Egypt for this valuable commodity.
What is gold?
This common natural disaster hugely impacted the Mesopotamians view of the gods as malicious and allowed priests to have power.
What are floods?
This pictographic writing system was used widely.
What was cuneiform?
These stone pillars were engraved with the laws and edicts of the king and placed strategically throughout the Babylonian Empire.
What are steles?
These people gained prestige through their literacy and education. (They often worked as tutors)
Who were scribes?
This government institution allowed for community funds for irrigation maintenance and other public works projects.
What is the tax system?
This article of clothing was worn by upper-class married women to show status as well as to avoid the attention of other men.
What are veils?
This group was the first to develop effective iron metallurgy.
Who were the Hittites?
These early communities were based around priests who administered over the surrounding land and people by the will of the gods.
What are temple-towns?
(or temple communities)
This group, which earned its status due to capture during war or debt accumulation, may have made up to 40% of the Sumerian population and did the bulk of its labor.
Who were the slaves?
The Sumerians sailed through this body of water to get to the Arabian sea and trade with Harappan societies.
What is the Persian gulf?
The amounts of written records, histories, and stories on a variety of topics suggest a widespread value of this.
What is knowledge?
(literacy also works)
Sumerians and Babylonians used a number system based around this number that is still used for time and degree measurements today.
What is 60?