Daily Life in Mesopotamia
What building material was primarily used for houses in Mesopotamia?
Mud bricks.
What type of structure was central to Mesopotamian cities?
Ziggurats
What was the first transportation device invented by Mesopotamians?
The wheel.
Who was the semi-mythical king of Uruk?
Gilgamesh
What event marked the end of Mesopotamia’s glory days?
The fall of Babylon to Cyrus the Great.
What were Mesopotamian cylinder seals used for?
To mark shipments or official documents.
Who was the goddess of love in Mesopotamian mythology?
Ishtar
Name one type of writing developed by the Sumerians.
Cuneiform
Who was the first known female author in history?
Enheduanna
Who was the British business agent that began Mesopotamian archaeology?
Claudius Rich.
What did Mesopotamian women primarily do at home?
Spun wool and managed households.
What did Mesopotamians believe about their gods?
They were human-like but had supernatural powers.
What counting system did the Mesopotamians develop that influenced how we measure time and angles today?
A base-60 system.
What legendary king united northern and southern Mesopotamia?
Sargon the Great
Which archaeologist found the royal tombs at Ur?
Sir Charles Leonard Woolley.
Name two crops grown by Mesopotamian farmers.
Wheat and barley.
What major flood myth is found in Mesopotamian stories?
The flood story of Gilgamesh.
Who is known for creating the first national library?
Ashurbanipal
What was Queen Semiramis known for?
Restoring Babylon and expanding the Assyrian Empire.
Who helped decipher Akkadian cuneiform?
Henry Rawlinson.
Who received formal education in Mesopotamia?
Sons of wealthy families.
What ritual involved a sheep during Babylonian New Year celebrations?
A sheep absorbed evil and was thrown into a river.
What material did Mesopotamians use to make glass?
Sand
What did Gilgamesh seek in his quest after Enkidu’s death?
Immortality
What happened to Sumerian culture over time?
It was forgotten by later civilizations.