Vocab
What are traces of plants or animals preserved by rock?
A fossil!
True or False. Mesopotamia was located in present day Iraq.
True!
Who were the hunters in a community? Who were the gatherers in a community?
Men were hunters.
Women and children were gatherers.
True or False. Sumerians form of writing was called cuneiform.
True!
Who were the upper class in Mesopotamian city-states?
Kings and priests.
What is a scribe?
A record keepers. In Sumer, this was done in cuneiform.
What shape was Mesopotamia?
A crescent!
During the stone age people discovered fire. What are two benefits of the discovery of fire to humans?
Warmth, cooking, and it scared off animals.
What are caravans?
Groups of traveling merchants!
Who were the lower class in Mesopotamian city-states?
Slaves
What is a nomad?
A person who moves around from place to place.
What was the climate like in Mesopotamia?
Hot and dry.
During Neolithic times the Sumerians invented writing, what was a benefit of writing?
To keep records. Helps people pass on their ideas.
True or False. An extremely useful material used for making tools and weapons was gold.
False. Gold is too soft, iron was popular to use.
How many ice ages were there?
2!
What is a skilled worker who creates products called?
An artisan!
Why was it so much easier to maintain a large population in Mesopotamia?
The land was very fertile, meaning people could grow a lot more food. With more food, came more people.
During the Neolithic age people began taming plants and animals for their own use. What is that called.
To domesticate. Domestication.
What is an example of a specialization that an artisan could have?
Blacksmith, pottery maker, basket weaver, home builder.
What was Sumerian writing called?
Cuneiform!
The largest structure in many Mesopotamian city-states, including Sumer, was a rectangular temple dedicated to the gods in the center of town. What was it called?
A Ziggurat!
What were the names of the two rivers in Mesopotamia?
Tigris and Euphrates!
Where was Sumer in Mesopotamia?
North, South, East, or West.
South!
The oldest know story in human history is from Sumer. What is is called?
The Epic of Gilgamesh
What was the "ancient wonder of the world" located in Babylon?
The Hanging Gardens of Babylon