Elements of Civilization
A system used to keep records, communicate nonverbally, express oneself.
Writing
used to measure circles (360 per circle)
degrees
4th level of Mesopotamian class system
slaves
what did life in Mesopotamia center around
water from the rivers
who were the first people in Mesopotamia?
Sumerians
unifying qualities among a group of people
language and culture
the number the Sumerian math system is based upon
60
3rd level of Mesopotamian class system
working class (merchants, traders, artisans)
What system did they use to bring water from the rivers to their farms?
irrigation
What is the system of writing that the Sumerians developed?
cuneiform
growing plants to feed large populations
agriculture
a tool used to tell time based upon the position of the sun
sundial
2nd level of Mesopotamian class system
priests
What river was on the bottom of Mesopotamia?
Euphrates River
What did they use to build walls and cities?
mud bricks
Ruling bodies that enforce laws throughout a group of people
government
the amount of minutes in an hour (same as the amount of seconds in a minute)
60
1st level of Mesopotamian class system
kings
What was the river on top of Mesopotamia?
Tigris River
What 2 things did Mesopotamians use wheels to make?
assigning specific jobs to certain people to ensure that all positions have a purpose
labor specialization
structuring weeks to have 7 days and years to have 12 months
calendar
which 2 levels of the class system collected taxes from the majority of the population
kings and priests
what mechanisms did they use to get water from the rivers to their farms?
canals
What were the tall structures that were used for religious purposes called?
ziggurats