Geography of Mesopotamia
What two rivers made Mesopotamia a good place for farming?
Tigris and Euphrates
What type of government did Sumerian cities have?
City-states
Who was the ruler that united Sumerian city-states into the Akkadian Empire?
Sargon of Akkad
What famous king ruled Babylon?
Hammurabi
A strong military
What does the word “Mesopotamia” mean?
Land between the rivers
What was the Sumerian writing system called?
Cuneiform
What made the Akkadian Empire different from Sumer? (Think about military)
It was the first empire
What was Hammurabi best known for creating?
Hammurabi's Code
What type of weapons did Assyrians use to gain power?
Iron weapons
Why were the rivers important to Mesopotamian civilization?
They provided water, fertile soil, and transportation
What building was at the center of a Sumerian city and used for religion?
Ziggurat
What language did the Akkadians speak?
Akkadian
What was the purpose of Hammurabi's Code?
To create laws and maintain order
How did Assyrians treat people they conquered?
What modern-day region is Mesopotamia located in?
The Middle East (mostly Iraq)
Name one important invention of the Sumerians.
Wheel, plow, sailboat, writing
How did Sargon keep control of his empire?
Strong military and loyal governors
What phrase best describes Hammurabi's Code?
An Eye for and Eye
What was one way Assyrians improved their empire besides war?
Roads, libraries, communication, and trading gold
How did flooding affect Mesopotamian farmers?
It could help crops with fertile soil but was unpredictable and destructive
Why is Sumer often called the “first civilization”?
They developed early cities, writing, laws, and technology
Why did the Akkadian Empire eventually fall?
Environmental problems
Who was another king that ruled Babylon?
King Nebuchadnezzar
Why did the Assyrian Empire fall?
Too much territory and enemy attacks