Mesopotamia
How did the Tigris and Euphrates rivers make the growth of civilization in Mesopotamia possible?
freshwater source, rivers deposited silt, floods helped with farming (but were unpredictable)
Which civilization conquered the Assyrian Empire?
the Chaldeans conquered and overthrew the Assyrians
What was the most famous trade good of the Phoenicians?
purple dye
Monotheism
the worship of a single god
What was the Sumerian writing system? Why was it significant?
Sumerians invented the earliest form of writing called cuneiform, the Epic of Gilgamesh (the world's oldest recorded story) was written in Sumer, and the development of written language marked the beginning of written history
What advantages did the Assyrians have over their enemies in warfare?
large army, used iron weapons, used horse-drawn chariots and bows and arrows
Why was the Phoenician alphabet significant?
to keep record of all trade transactions. It also was adapted by the Greeks and Romans.
The Israelites were different than other ancient people because
they did not worship idols, they only ate certain foods (kosher), they didn't work on the Sabbath, and they kept their own culture.
For what reasons might Sumerian city-states go to war with one another?
protect fertile land, limited resources, profitable trade routes
What Sargon do in order to unite his empire?
allowed people to keep their local rulers and customs, introduced standard weights and measures to make trade easier, and created policies to help keep peace throughout his empire
Why were the Phoenicians able to spread ideas from different cultures?
extensive trade network and their ships
Some facts about the Hebrew people:
settled in Caanan, father of the Jewish people is Abraham, the Ten Commandments are still important today, Moses led the people out of Egypt
What was significant about Hammurabi's Code? How did it influence later legal systems?
his code helped bring justice to everyday life, the code was applied based on a person's social class, experienced judges would hear cases, defendants were assumed to be innocent until proven guilty, and his code influenced legal systems of ancient Greece and Rome.
What architectural wonder was commissioned by King Nebuchadnezzar?
Hanging Gardens of Babylon
How did Darius rule the Persian Empire wisely?
he divided his empire into provinces ruled by satraps who helped him maintain control. He understood that communications were essential to good government, so he built the Royal Road.
Why is the Torah treated with respect among Jews?
a sacred book that contains the word of God
How did civilization in Sumer advance during the Bronze Age?
people began to settle in advanced, self-governing, city-states, a surplus of food gave people time to learn new skills and encouraged trade, tin and copper were used to produce bronze (a strong metal used to create tools and weapons)
How did the Assyrians often treat conquered people?
the people were treated unfairly and violently. They were enslaved and even killed.
What was a ziggurat? What purpose did it serve ancient Sumer?
a huge pyramid-shaped temple, most important building within a city-state and many religious practices were conducted there, Sumerians believed the deity (God) lived in a shrine at the top of the ziggurat
What is the Diaspora?
the migration of Jews around the world