Vocabulary
fertile crescent
a. a desert in mesopotamia
b. a curved area of rich, fertile land
c. a type of ancient weapon
d. a mountain range
b. a curved area of rich, fertile land
What does the word Mesopotamia mean in Greek?
the land between two rivers
What happened to Mesopotamia's land after the spring floods went away?
the ground became dry and sunbaked
What position did Hammurabi hold?
King of Babylon
Why was Hammurabi's Code an important innovation for Mesopotamian society?
a. it taught people how to farm
b. it created the first irrigation system
c. it established written laws and helped recognize people's rights
d. it helped people discover new rivers
c. it established written laws and helped recognize people's rights
irrigation
a. building houses
b. trading goods
c. writing laws
d. bringing water to fields
d. bringing water to fields
Which two rivers was Mesopotamia located between?
Tigris & Euphrates
Why was it important for farmers to control water?
So their crops would survive
Why did Hammurabi believe his laws were important?
He believed laws would bring peace and prosperity and help prevent crime
Which grain was most popular in Mesopotamia?
a. wheat
b. rice
c. barley
d. corn
c. barley
surplus
a. something that is broken
b. something that is rare
c. more than what is needed.
d. something that is dangerous
c. more than what is needed.
Mesopotamia was located between Asia and what body of water?
Persian Gulf
What did Mesopotamians build to bring water to their fields?
irrigation ditches and canals
What type of daily activities did Hammurabi's laws cover?
land, trade, and family life
What happened when Mesopotamian farmers produced an abundance of food?
a. the population increased
b. everyone left mesopotamia
c. the rivers dried up
d. farming stopped
a. the population increased
civilization
a. a group of people living in an organized society
b. a type of river
c. a farming tool
d. a type of punishment
a. a group of people living in an organized society
Mesopotamia was a large region known as the _____ because of its rich, fertile land
Fertile Crescent
Why would farming be difficult in a land that had both floors and extreme dryness?
too much water could flood crops
too little water could leave the soil dry and unabble to support crops
What was one important feature of Hammurabi's code?
each law had a specific punishment
What does "innocent until proven guilty" mean?
a. everyone is guilty
b. a person should be punished before a trial
c. a person should not be considered guilty without evidence proving they committed a crime
d. only kings are accused of crimes
c. a person should not be considered guilty without evidence proving they committed a crime
theocracy
a. government controlled by farmers
b. a government where rulers are believed to be chosen by gods
c. a government without laws
d. a government controlled by merchant
b. a government where rulers are believed to be chosen by gods
If you were standing in Southern Mesopotamia, what type of land would you most likely see?
Flat plain
Irrigation helped farmers produce more food, but eventually caused a serious problem. Explain this problem.
Irrigation caused salt from the soil to rise from the surface making the soil increasingly salty and eventually preventing crops from growing.
How tall is the famous copy of Hammurabi's Code?
about 7.5 feet tall
Which ORDER BEST shows how irrigation eventually caused some Mesopotamian cities to decline?
a. irrigation --> less food --> smaller population --> strong population
b.irrigation --> more food --> population growth --> increased irrigation --> salt buildup --> crops die --> people move
c. irrigation --> rivers disapear --> people stop farming -->cities grow
d. irrigation --> fewer crops --> less water needed --> cities became larger
b.irrigation --> more food --> population growth --> increased irrigation --> salt buildup --> crops die --> people move