Geography
Extremely fertile land in the Middle East
Fertile Crescent
What religion did the people of Mesopotamia practice?
Polytheism (more than one god)
Name three major inventions of Ancient Mesopotamia?
Writing, empires and written legal codes
What time of government did Ancient Mesopotamia have?
Monarchy: One person (king) in charge
What were some of the natural resources of Ancient Mesopotamia?
What does Mesopotamia mean?
Land between the two rivers
Who were the religious leaders?
Priests at first, then kings.
What was the name of the first writing system?
Cuneiform (wedged shaped)
Who were the leaders and made decisions for each city-state?
First priests then kings
Who did the Mesopotamians trade with?
Asia Minor, Egypt and India
Mostly grass in the north and marshes/swamps in the south.
What did Kings believe about themselves?
They were demi-gods: part man, part god.
What was the name of the first empire?
Akkadian Empire
Name two famous kings from Mesopotamia?
Sargon the Great and Hammurabi
What was the main job in Mesopotamia?
Farming
How did the land impact the people?
Dry with little rain for crops, often flooded near rivers leaving silt (good for crops)
Where did the people of Mesopotamia worship?
Ziggurat
Who started the first empire?
Sargon the Great
Name the three groups in the middle class?
Scribes, Merchants/Artisans and Commoners
Define Job Specialization?
Two things that people had to build to deal with the geography?
Dams and Canals
What did each city-state believe about a certain god?
That one was on their side.
What is the name of the first written legal codes?
Hammurabi's Code
Who was in the Lower Class?
Slaves
Define Surplus?
When you have extra of something (crops)