Investigating the Past
What questions do historians ask?
What happened in the past and why
What invention began the Neolithic Age?
farming
A city that has its own ruler and farmland.
city-state
Sumerians believed their kings were supported by who?
gods
When one government rules several groups
empire
Define prehistoric.
Before written record
Why is Mesopotamia called the fertile crescent?
good soil
Increased population in the foothills caused...
food shortages
Sumerians built these to express their religious beliefs.
ziggurats
What is Hammurabi most known for?
code of laws
An object made or used by people in the past.
artifact
Why did Neolithic people build elevated doorways?
protect from animals and enemies
What made farming difficult in Sumer?
uncontrolled water supply
The most important Sumerian technological advancement.
the wheel
Why did all four empires in Mesopotamia fall?
too large
Examining objects people have left behind is the job of...
archaeologists
Why did people in the Paleolithic Age live in smaller groups?
not enough food
Why did Sumerians build walls around their cities?
to protect from enemies
Name a responsibility of the king.
answers may vary
How did the Akkadians gain power in Sumer?
military strategy
What type of paintings is rare in prehistoric cave art discoveries?
humans
What was overall result of trading?
exposure to different cultures
What was the biggest flaw in the canal system that flowed through many different cities?
one city could block the water supply from the rest
what did Sumerians use to produce cuneiform?
a wedge-shaped stylus
Who was the leader of the first Mesopotamian empire?
Sargon