Geography
Name 3 reasons why civilizations settled near water.
Sumerians use picture symbols to record information. What was this form of writing called?
Cuneiform
What were Mesopotamian cities called?
City States
Which social class made the most money, the upper class, lower class, or middle class?
The upper class
What did Mesopotamians call them selves?
Sumerians
Why was the land in Ancient Mesopotamia considered fertile?
In cuneiform writing, what material/writing tablet would Sumerians press their lines and symbols into?
Wet clay tablets
Sumerians were Polytheistic. What is Polytheism?
The belief in more than one god
This type of people were in the lowest social class, and often worked for the upper class people.
Slaves
Mesopotamian houses were made out of what material?
Mesopotamian houses were built out of mud brick.
What modern day countries was Ancient Mesopotamia located in?
Mainly Iraq, also parts of present-day Iran and Syria
Sumerians were the first to divide up time units. Did they divide time into 30 parts, 60 parts, or 100 parts?
They divided time into 60 parts: a 60 second minute and a 60 minute hour
What is monotheism?
Monotheism is the belief in one God
Farmers and commoners were members of which social class: the lower, middle, or upper class?
The middle class
What is a civilization?
A civilization is a society or group of people of all ages and backgrounds who live, work and play together. Civilizations are made up of entertainment, technology, homes, schools, governments, and businesses.
What is irrigation?
Irrigation allowed Sumerians to transport water from the rivers to their farmland through canals.
Name two inventions the Sumerians had.
Cuneiform writing, dividing time units, the wheel, irrigation, using bronze metal to make tools
Which king created the 282 laws that were engraved on a 7 foot tall stone pillar?
King Hammurabi created 282 laws called the “Code of Hammurabi”.
Name two ways in which women were not equal to men in Ancient Mesopotamia.
Women did not have a say in government, could not go to school, and were rarely scribes.
What does the word Mesopotamia mean?
The word Mesopotamia means “land between two rivers”
What were the names of the two rivers that Mesopotamia was located between?
Tigris and Euphrates rivers
Describe irrigation and why it was an important invention.
Irrigation allowed Sumerians to transport water from the rivers to their farmland through canals. This allowed them to be able to farm and grow their own food! We still use irrigation today.
What was the name of the temple in every City State that Sumerians worshiped in?
A ziggurat
Name 2 kinds of people who were in the upper class.
A king, scribes, priests, merchants, artisans
At what time did Ancient Mesopotamia exist?
Ancient Mesopotamia was the very first civilization that existed 8000 years ago and lasted for thousands of years. This was around 3000 BC.