Geography
What are the two rivers in Mesopotamia?
Tigris and Euphrates
What is the definition of polytheistic?
The belief in many gods
What is cuneiform?
Mesopotamian writing
What is a patriarchal government?
A government ruled by men
The "Cradle of Civilization" is a nickname for
Mesopotamia
Which Mesopotamian river is to the west?
Euphrates River
What is an example of polytheism?
1. Sumerians believed in around 3,600 gods
2. Akkadians believed in around 1,000 gods
3. Babylonians believed in around 1,500 gods
4. Assyrians believed in around 2,000
Who is Hammurabi?
This famous king created a set of laws known for their strictness and "eye for an eye" punishments.
What is absolute power?
When a ruler has all of the power
True or False: The Mesopotamian civilizations were known for being brutal
True
Which Mesopotamian river is to the east?
What is a ziggurat?
A religious temple
What is an empire?
A large group of lands or countries controlled by one ruler, like a king or queen.
Were the laws of Hammurabi's Code fair, overall? Why or why not?
No, because they were inconsistent. An "eye for an eye" applied in some instances, but also people higher up in the social status didn't have the same consequences as others.
About how many years ago was Mesopotamia founded?
5,500 years ago
Besides water for farming, what is another advantage of Mesopotamia being by the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers?
1. Fertile Soil for crops
2. Trade and Transportation
3. Access to Fish and Resources
4. Protection and Defense
What is a theocracy?
A government where religious leaders are in charge
What are 5 inventions of the Mesopotamians?
Wheel, Cuneiform, Glassmaking, Math, Maps, Irrigation, Calendar, Road Systems, Postal Systems, Sailing, Metalworking, Plows, etc.
What are the qualities of Mesopotamian leaders?
They were mostly religious men with absolute power
Who were the Mesopotamians conquered by?
The Persians
What are the names of the major two seas, one gulf, and mountain range by Mesopotamia?
1. Mediterranean Sea
2. Red Sea
3. Persian Gulf
4. Zagros Mountains
True or False: Mesopotamian people believed that the gods were unstable and would get angry by the littlest things. As a result, the temple priests had little power.
False, the temple priests had lots of power
What is irrigation?
This system of irrigation allowed Mesopotamians to control water from the Tigris and Euphrates rivers to grow crops.
What is a city-state?
A city that has its own government. City-states were common in Mesopotamia.
What are the names of the four civilizations in Mesopotamia?
Sumerians, Akkadians, Babylonians, and Assyrians