Geography
Which present day country shares the landscape of Ancient Mesopotamia?
The country is Iraq
The most famous code of laws from Ancient Mesopotamia was named for whom?
King Hammurabi of Babylon
What invention had to be made BEFORE the chariot?
The wheel!
What is the name of the job of a "professional note taker" in Mesopotamia?
A scribe
In which continent would you find Mesopotamia?
Ancient Mesopotamia is in southwestern Asia
How many laws were included in the famous set of ancient laws?
282 Laws
Mesopotamian calendars were based on the movement of ____________________________.
The stars in the sky
What is a ziggurat?
A step pyramid temple, often built in the center of a city-state, that was considered the "home of the gods".
Define the term "Fertile Crescent" as it relates to Mesopotamia.
The Fertile Crescent was a curved strip of land that stretched across Mesopotamia (and even Egypt) that was great for farming. It is no wonder it is home to the first civilization!
Define the phrase "eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth" as it relates to Ancient Mesopotamia.
"Eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth" is used to summarise Hammurabi's Code. It is used to describe the punishments, under the code of Hammurabi, were often equal to the crime itself.
What major breakthrough in math is attributed to the Mesopotamians?
Time tracking: 60 seconds in a minute, 60 minutes in an hour
360 degrees in a circle
Why is Mesopotamia considered the "Cradle of Civilization"?
What are the names of the two major rivers that flow through Mesopotamia?
The Tigris & the Euphrates
What does retribution mean?
Punishment inflicted on someone as vengeance
What is the name of the writing system Mesopotamians used on clay tablets?
Cuneiform
What does the term "polytheism" mean?
A belief in MORE THAN ONE god.
Name three significant bodies of water that are in the region known as the Middle East? (not rivers)
Answers may vary: Mediterranean Sea, Black Sea, Caspian Sea, Arabian Sea, Red Sea, Indian Ocean, Gulf of Oman, Gulf of Aden, Persian Gulf
Did social class play a role in the ancient set of laws? If so, how?
Yes! Mesopotamia had a class system that offered differing punishments based upon the class of the aggressor and the victims.
What term is used to describe the systems Mesopotamians used to pioneer controlling the flow of water?
Irrigation
What is one result of a civilization obtaining a "food surplus"?
Answers may vary*
Population growth follows a food surplus
Job specialization follows a food surplus