Geography of the Fertile Crescent
The Fertile Crescent includes the Nile River, and these two other rivers that run southeast.
The Tigris and Euphrates.
Mesopotamians believed in many gods, which meant they had this kind of religion.
Polytheistic.
This feature of civilizations allowed people to do the profession they were best suited for.
Job Specialization
While much of the region was hot and dry, Mesopotamia enjoyed fertile land thanks to this clay-like material found in rivers.
Silt.
This invention allowed Sumerians to move heavy objects more easily. Once they came up with it, they were really on a roll.
The wheel.
Mesopotamia means this in Greek.
Between the rivers.
Myths are usually assumed to be untrue, but they helped ancient people by teaching moral lessons and doing this.
Explaining natural phenomena.
This feature of civilization allowed Mesopotamians to keep detailed records.
Written language.
For the land in Mesopotamia to remain fertile, this event needed to occur every spring.
The flooding of the rivers.
His "code" is the oldest surviving written set of laws we have.
Hammurabi.
Something not made by humans the separates one location from another. Examples include mountain ranges and deserts.
Natural Borders.
The Epic of Gilgamesh features this kind of myth, which was popular across the ancient world.
Flood Myth.
This person sat atop the social structure of Mesopotamia. Only gods and goddesses were considered higher.
The King.
Mesopotamians used a series of canals and ditches to move river water where they wanted it to flow, in an early version of this practice.
Irrigation.
This is the major way that water connected Mesopotamia to the rest of the world.
Through trade.
Mesopotamia is located PRIMARILY in this modern-day country.
Iraq.
A myth that explains how the world came to be is this kind of myth.
Creation myth.
They sat at the bottom of the social structure in Mesopotamia, and you could become one if you did not have enough money to pay back your debts.
Slaves.
Sometimes the rivers would flood too much and wipe out Sumerian settlements. So, they invented these to stop the flood waters from going further than they desird.
Levees.
Sumerians developed these so they would know when the floods were coming.
Calendars.
The nutrient-rich water from the Tigris and Euphrates actually flowed originally from these.
The northern mountains.
One potential reason for the large number of flood myths across the ancient world is because early societies settled along these.
Rivers.
This feature of civilization is when a government provides services to make sure society keeps moving. Modern examples include road construction and snow plowing.
Public Works.
This Sumerian invention allowed farmers to plant far more seeds in far less time, with the help of an ox, of course.
The Plough.
He led the Akkadians across Mesopotamia, conquering city-state after city-state, and establishing the world's first known empire.
Sargon.