Geography
What two rivers is Mesopotamia located between?
Tigris and Euphrates
Did Mesopotamians believe in one god or many? What is this called?
Many (Polytheisim)
What was the first writing system called?
Cuneiform
What were the independent units Mesopotamia was divided into?
City-states
What does “agriculture” mean?
Farming, raising livestock, and distributing food
Who had the most power in Mesopotamia?
Kings
What does Mesopotamia mean in greek?
Land between rivers
What were Mesopotamian temples called?
Ziggurats
What base number did Mesopotamians use for math?
60
Name one famous Mesopotamian city-state.
Ur, Uruk, Sumer, or Babylon
Name one crop Mesopotamians grew
Barley, wheat, dates, vegetables)
Who had no freedom and did the hardest work?
Slaves
Why is the area called the fertile crescent?
Due to the shape and fertile soil
Who performed rituals and spoke to the gods?
Priests
What invention was first used for pottery and then for carts?
The wheel
What ruler created one of the first written law codes?
Hammurabi
What did farmers use to plow their fields?
Wooden plows pulled by oxen
Who was the head of the family?
the Father
What did people build to bring water to crops?
Irrigation systems
What famous story from Mesopotamia is one of the Earliest myths?
Epic of Gilgamesh
What did Mesopotamians do with the stars?
Created star maps
What were laws written on so everyone could see them?
Stone pillars
What did Mesopotamians use as an early form of money?
Silver rings or pieces
What type of marriages were common?
Arranged marriages
Why did Mesopotamians need to rely on high walls to protect the city?
What did Mesopotamians believe controlled natural forces like storms?
Gods
What building feature did they invent for stronger structures?
The arch and the dome
How did Kings claim they had a right to rule?
They claimed to be chosen by the gods
Name one item they imported and one they exported.
(Imports: silver, copper, gold, tin; Exports: grain, textiles, leather, ceramics)
Which class owned land and slaves and had access to luxury goods?
Priests and nobles