AWH Unit 2: Ancient Mesopotamia

Leaders

1

He is most well known for leading Babylon and developing a strict set of laws

Hammurabi

1

Mentioned by the Hebrew prophet, Daniel, this king is most well known for leading the Chaldeans and bringing Babylon back into greatness around the year 600 BC.

Nebuchadnezzar

2

As cupbearer, he rose to power by overthrowing the king and then conquering all of Mesopotamia and Sumer around 2500 BC as leader of the Akkadians.

Sargon I

2

He was most likely the king of Uruk around 2700 BC, but most of what we know about this leader comes from a legendary story that was written about him.

Gilgamesh

3

Ashurbanipal, the most famous king of the Assyrian Empire, who wrote about a Hebrew prophet pestering him, was the leader of this city during the 600s BC.

Nineveh

Civilizations

1

This was the first civilization in Mesopotamia and also the first civilization in world history!

Sumer (the Sumerians)

1

This empire came to power around 1800 BC when it overthrew the city state of Ur. 

Babylon

2

This was the first empire in world history and began around 2500 when its leader conquered all of Mesopotamia and territory stretching up towards the Mediterranean Sea.

Akkadian Emipre

2

This empire used tactics of terror as it expanded throughout Mesopotamia, southern Asia Minor, and into Egypt.

The Assyrians

3

These were the TWO most important physical features for all of the civilization that occupied Mesopotamia.

Tigris and Euphrates Rivers

Developments

1

This time period began when metal workers first started to mix copper with other metals, forming a stronger alloy.

Bronze Age

1

This system of writing is made up of symbols and syllables and was first written upon clay tablets by the Sumerians.

Cuneiform

2

This technology is essentially a cart on wheels, pulled by a horse, upon which warriors could achieve a high degree of mobility on the battlefield.

chariot

2

These were the central architectural structures in Sumerian cities that served as city centers and temples for each city.

Ziggurats

3

Phoenicia did not have many technological developments, but was most well known for producing this product, which was extremely expensive and became a mark of wealth for those who could afford products made with it.

purple dye

Misc

1

This term describes the region of rich soil that stretches from the Persian Gulf, northwest through Mesopotamia, then westward to the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, and Southwest into Egypt.

Fertile Crescent

1

These structures are used to move water from collection basins towards fields.

Canals

2

This term refers to the belief in and worship of many gods.

Polytheism

2

This term refers to professional writers who rose to prominence during the time of the Sumerians.

Scribes

3

This term refers to the economic arrangement by which each worker specializes in a particular job or task.

division of labor

Throwback

1

This group conquered the Assyrians in 612 BC, and later successfully conquered Jerusalem in 586. Their empire centered around the powerful city of Babylon.

Chaldeans (Neo-Babylonians)

1

This group was the first to master iron metallurgy. Their empire was centered in Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey) and their use of the chariot helped them to conquer the first Babylonian Empire in 1595 BC.

Hittites

2

When this site was uncovered in the mid-1800s AD, archaeologists found over 30,000 clay tablets in good condition. When it was destroyed in 612 BC, it likely had even more. What was this institution that contained all sorts of records of knowledge?

Royal Library of Ashurbanipal

2

This architectural structure was bright blue, with golden bulls and dragons decorated all over the outside. It was used for daily traffic in and out of Babylon, as well as for a ceremonial New Year's Day parade.

Ishtar Gate

3

During the early 500s BC, the leader of Babylon built this magnificent structure for his wife. It included a wide variety of plants that reminded her of her homeland, and put the might and wealth of Babylon on display for all.

Hanging Gardens of Babylon