Geography of Mesopotamia
What do we call people who lived in Ancient Sumer?
Sumerians
What are the characteristics of a civilization?
Stable food supply
Social structure
Government
Religion
The Arts
Technology
Writing
What is cuneiform?
The first written language
Who was the king of Babylon who wrote a code of laws?
Hammurabi
What is the first set of written laws called?
Hammurabi's Code
Tigris River and Euphrates River
What does "civilization" mean?
a society with developed arts, sciences, government, and social structure
What was the name of the person who recorded laws and contracts?
Scribe
Which empire is considered to be the first?
Akkadian Empire
Who gave Hammurabi the power the write the laws?
Hammurabi believed that the gods gave him power.
Why did people move away from the foothills of the Zagros Mountains?
Overpopulation was causing a food shortage
What does "social structure" mean?
They way a civilization is organized
Different social levels and jobs
What is a ziggurat?
It is a temple built in Ancient Sumerians city-states. They were built in the center of the city and were as high as 7 stories high. They believed that the gods lived in the temples.
What is the Babylonian Empire most known for?
What happens to the son of the builder, if the house he builds collapses and kills the owner's son?
The builder's son must be killed.
How did Sumerian city-states protect themselves from neighboring enemies?
They built walls and moats around the city.
Why is a stable food supply an important part of any civilization?
Civilizations can only thrive if all its members have the food they need to survive.
What important technological advancements did the Sumerians make?
They invented the wheel, which they used for carts and for making clay pots.
They invented the arch, which added strength and beauty to Sumerian buildings.
They invented the irrigation system and plows for farming.
The Hanging Gardens of Babylon were built during which empire?
Why did Hammurabi write the laws?
He wanted to unify his empire and preserve order
How did the Sumerians balance the water supply in the river valley?
They created an irrigation system that allowed flood water to be stored in levees. When the land was dry, farmers poked holes in the side of the levees to allow water to flow into the thirsty fields.
Why do historians classify Ancient Sumer as a civilization?
Ancient Sumer had a complex social structure with different jobs and social levels. Kings led the government. Religious beliefs influenced every part of daily life.
Ancient Sumerians had a highly developed culture that included the creative arts of painting, architecture, and music. The Sumerians' most important technological invention was the wheel. They also created a written language.
What were Sumerian kings responsible for?
They enforced laws, collected taxes, built temples, and made sure irrigation systems were maintained.
What was the Assyrian Empire known for?
They were known for their military power and cruelty. They developed new and advanced weapons and strategies for use during battle.
Why is Hammurabi's Code still important today?
Hammurabi's laws applied to everyone, and some laws were inspiration for current laws in our country and other countries.