Geography of Sumer
What was the environment like in Sumer?
Flat, dry land with little rain
Why were Sumerian communities called city-states?
Each had its own ruler and farmland
What does it mean that Sumer had a “social structure”?
The way a civilization is organized by class and job
How was Sumer different from the later Mesopotamian empires?
Sumer had separate city-states, not one unified government
What features did empires like the Akkadian, Babylonian, and Assyrian have that Sumer lacked?
One government ruled several groups
What problem did farmers in the Zagros foothills face as the population increased?
Overcrowding/food shortages
How did the villages of Sumer depend on one another?
worked together to maintain irrigation systems
Who in Sumer would most likely have lived in a large, two-story home near the center of the city?
Government officials
Who was the first ruler to create an empire in Mesopotamia?
Sargon
What did Hammurabi’s Code show about life in Babylon?
It organized laws and gave citizens rights and responsibilities
Why was farming difficult in southern Mesopotamia?
Lack of rainfall
What was the main reason Sumerians built moats around their cities?
To protect cities from attacks
What kind of homes did most farmers live in?
Small mud-brick homes on the edge of the city
What did the Akkadians use steles for?
To record important events
Which empire is known for its use of new technology and strong armies?
The Assyrian Empire
What caused the rivers in Sumer to flood each spring?
Melting snow from mountains
What was one problem caused by each city-state acting independently?
Couldn't defend themselves from stronger groups
Why did people believe the king had the right to rule?
People believed kings were chosen by the gods
For what is Hammurabi best remembered?
Creating a code of laws
What was the main purpose of building dams and reservoirs?
To store water for later use
Why were scribes important to the Sumerian government?
They wrote down laws and records
How was Babylon’s legal system more advanced than others at the time?
it gave women some rights