Vocabulary
The wedge shaped writing invented by the Sumerians
Cuneiform
Mesopotamia was located in what modern day country?
Iraq (in the Middle East)
True or False: The Sumerians figured out how to irrigate their crops properly by poking holes in levees to let a little water through.
True. They also used the levees as blockades so the river water wouldn't wash away their crops.
The king of the Amorites who created Babylon and its 282 laws
Hammurabi
Another name for a writer
Scribe
A group of city-states under the rule of one leader
Empire
Between which 2 rivers was Mesopotamia located?
The Tigris and Euphrates Rivers
Who was allowed to go to school, and what was the purpose of school?
Only sons of the rich, and it was to teach them to write
True or False? The Babylonians were monotheistic.
False. They were "polythestic" meaning they believed in many Gods.
Who was responsible for conquering and uniting multiple city-states to create the first empire?
Sargon I
The proper watering of crops
Irrigation
True or False? Most of the land surrounding Mesopotamia was desert.
True.
This is why people began migrating towards the river valley.
Where were ziggurats located, and name 2 reasons why were they important.
In the center of the city-state
At the base, citizens had school there, traded there, artisans sold goods there, and poor were fed there. Ziggurats were also the "temples" for the Gods.
Name 3 improvements Hammurabi made to Babylon.
1. A better tax system 2. Government housing
3. Better irrigation systems
4. Raising the Babylonian God over all others
5. A code of laws
Why were city-states always fighting with each other?
They wanted to be the most powerful and wanted the most land and water.
Major improvements to an area are known as what?
Reform
Why did Mesopotamia begin in this area called "The Fertile Crescent?"
The crescent shaped land between the 2 rivers has very rich soil making it "fertile" for farming.
Name 1 job in each Sumerian social class.
Lower- farmers, slaves, fisherman
Middle- artisans, shopkeepers
Upper- priests, scribes, merchants
Name 2 positives of Hammurabi's Code.
1. Took the best laws from each of the city-states he conquered to make this Code
2. United the empire because they now had just 1 set to everyone to follow.
3. Was strict to keep the peace and people from breaking them.
4. People were innocent until proven guilty
Mesopotamia became the first civilized society because it contained these 6 characteristics...
Specialized Jobs Farming
Different Levels of Wealth Writing
Government Religion
"Reign" means...
a ruler's period of power
"Mesopotamia" means...
What did the Sumerians use to build the first cities?
Since there was no stone or timber, they made their own mud bricks to create buildings which led to the first true cities.
How did Babylon become a major place for trading?
Because they developed a surplus of food and other goods, they were able to trade them with other civilizations. Also, their central location helped as well.
Why were priests so important?
They believed priests knew "the will of the Gods," and since they thought the Gods controlled all of nature, they wanted to please them always.