The Fertile Crescent
How does the name Mesopotamia describe part of the Fertile Crescent?
Mesopotamia means "the land between the rivers" and is the part of the Fertile Crescent located between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers.
What did cuneiform imprints stand for?
Objects, activities, or sounds
Who was Hammurabi?
The shrewd king of Babylon who established the Babylonian empire and created a code of laws.
In what two regions did the Hebrews live?
Canaan and Egypt
Why are the colors of Halloween orange and black?
Orange and black are Halloween colors because orange is associated with the Fall harvest and black is associated with darkness and death.
Where did the first civilizations arise?
In an area from the eastern shores of the Mediterranean Sea between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers to the mouth of the Persian Gulf.
How were the Sumerian religion and government connected?
Sumerians believed that kings were chosen by the gods and that kings ruled according to the gods' wishes.
What was the Code of Hammurabi?
A set of laws in which the punishment fit the crime and the weak were protected.
What was one of the first monotheistic religions?
Judaism
Where did Jack O'Lanterns originate?
Jack o’ Lanterns originated in Ireland where people placed candles in hollowed-out turnips to keep away spirits and ghosts on the Samhain holiday.
How did Mesopotamian farmers use the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers to solve the problem of low rainfall?
They guilt irrigation systems that funneled water from the rivers to their fields.
How did the Sumerian writing system develop and change?
The system of writing began as picture writing and developed into cuneiform.
How did Assyrian culture differ from Babylonian culture?
The Assyrians placed a higher value on warfare and conquest.
What was the purpose of Solomon's temple?
To house the Torah and be a place of worship.
How was Halloween brought to North America?
Halloween was brought to North America by immigrants from Europe who would celebrate the harvest around a bonfire, share ghost stories, sing, dance and tell fortunes.
What was the one major step toward the rise of civilization in souther Mesopotamia?
The production of surplus food.
Describe an example of an idea or invention that shaped Mesopotamian civilization and influenced other civilizations?
Writing made it possible for Sumerians and later cultures to record their thoughts, knowledge, and business dealings.
What contributions did the Babylonians make to civilization?
Advancements in mathematics and astronomy, and a code of laws.
What did the Lydians invent that we use today?
Coins
What was the first wrapped candy in the U.S.?
Tootsie Rolls were the first wrapped penny candy in America.
Why would settlers from other parts of the Fertile Crescent come to southern Mesopotamia?
They were attracted by the possibility of more fertile land and a more reliable source of fresh water.
How did Sargon encourage the Sumerians to accept him as king?
He gave himself the name Sharu-kin, which mean "Rightful King".
Who was the Babylonian king who took over much of the former Assyrian Empire and the desert land west of Babylon. He ordered massive building projects to make Babylon great and glorious.
Nebuchadnezzar II
How did the Phoenicians help spread new ideas from one part of the ancient world to another?
Through their extensive trade activities, which linked various parts of the world.
Where did the tradition of dressing up in costume on Halloween come from?
The ancient Celts thought that spirits and ghosts roamed the countryside on Halloween night. They began wearing masks and costumes to avoid being recognized as human.