Definitions
This is a temple where Sumerians believed gods and goddesses lived and ruled the city.
Ziggurat
What does the word "cuneiform," mean?
Wedge shaped
Farmers and slaves made up this percentage of the population.
90%
What does the name "Mesopotamia" mean?
Between two rivers.
Before the wheel was used for transportation, it was used in Mesopotamia for this...
What is irrigation, grinding or pottery
Give a definition of the Fertile Crescent.
An area of fertile land in the Middle East. This is where Ancient Civilizations flourished.
What was cuneiform written on?
Clay tablets
What is the title of the top most section of the hierarchy pyramid?
Nobles and Royals
What two rivers surrounded the land of Mesopotamia?
The Tigris and the Euphrates Rivers
Why was the Epic of Gilgamesh so important?
It was the first piece of literature and influenced later epic poems like the Iliad and the Odyssey.
Give a definition of a city-state.
The basic unit of Sumerian civilization: a small area surrounding a large, walled city.
What did Sumerians use for a stylus?
A sharpened reed
These people held jobs including fishing, farming and crafting. They made up about 90% of the population.
Who are the commoners/craftsman
Why did nomads settle in the region of Mesopotamia?
Because it had rich, fertile land where they could grow crops. The rivers provided them with many resources.
Before cuneiform was created, "written," language consisted mostly of these.
What are pictographs.
The worship of multiple gods or goddesses.
Polytheistic
Why was cuneiform so important?
It was the first recorded written language and it led to other forms of writing.
What was the primary job of slaves?
They worked on palace building projects.
Explain two ways the rivers benefitted the Mesopotamians (besides fertile soil)
Water supply (for drinking, washing, animals,) transportation and food.
Explain what irrigation is.
Give a definition of the Code of Hammurabi
A strict and harsh set of laws in Ancient Mesopotamian times, created by the Babylonian king Hammurabi.
What was cuneiform writing primarily used for in Ancient Mesopotamia?
Receipts and keeping record of trades and transactions.
What 3 types of people were included in the top most 1% of the population?
Royals, priests and officials.
About how long did the civilization of Mesopotamia last for?
Around 3000 years
What one rule is used to sum up the style of justice in the Code of Hammurabi?
An Eye for an eye.