Vocabulary
What is a legacy?
things, both cultural and technological, left to us from the past
What gave rise to civilization in Mesopotamia?
fertile soil for farming
How did Hammurabi's laws change life in Mesopotamia?
They were written down for everyone to see
Which statement best describes the geographical location of Mesopotamia?
A. Along the Persian Gulf
B. Between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers
C.in a valley in Southwest Asia
D. to the east of the Mediterranean Sea
Between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers
What did ancient Sumerians house in ziggurats?
religious shrines
What is the belief in many gods called?
polytheism
What purpose did ziggurats serve?
centers of religious worship
How did the Assyrians come to rule so many lands and peoples?
through their professional army and superior iron weapons
Which factors helped Sumerian agriculture flourish?
fertile soil, irrigation projects, ox-driven plows
Which ruler conquered Sumer to establish the powerful Akkadian empire?
Sargon the Great
What are formal series of acts always performed in the same way?
rituals
What basic form of writing based on images of objects was first invented by Sumerians?
cuneiform
What important aspect of their culture did the Phoenicians spread to trading partners?
their alphabet
Which Mesopotamian people were known for their seafaring skills and extensive trade?
the Phoenicians
For what achievement was the New Babylonian Empire known?
the Hanging Gardens
What is social class?
An order based on power and wealth
How did Sargon's Akkadian Empire fall?
It grew too big to maintain order
Why did Darius I build the 1,500 mile long Royal Road?
to make communications across the empire easier
the codification of laws
How did Darius I improve communications in the Persian Empire?
By building a system of roads
Who was the most famous Chaledean king whose rule lasted for 43 years in the New Babylonian Empire?
Nebuchadnezzar II
How did Sargon win loyalty within the Akkadian Empire?
by permitting people to keep their local customs and rulers
How did Cyrus the Great treat conquered peoples?
He honored local customs and traditions
What result did agricultural surplus have?
growth in population
What did the Assyrians use to conquer Mesopotamia?
bows and arrows