Vocabulary
What is polytheism?
The belief in more than one god or goddess
What region of the world is the Fertile Crescent located in?
The Middle East
What was the first form of writing called?
Cuneiform
Who was lowest in the social class order?
Slaves
What is the longest text ever written in Cuneiform?
The myth "Gilgamesh"
What does the word "Mesopotamia" mean?
"The land between the rivers"
What two rivers made the soil fertile in Mesopotamia?
Tigris & Euphrates Rivers
What invention was helpful in carrying large, heavy objects?
The wheel
Who was responsible for selling products in the city-states?
Merchants
What did the Sumerians do as an "offering" to keep the gods and goddesses happy?
They left plates of food out for the gods and goddesses to consume
What is irrigation?
The use of controlled water to hydrate soil for growing crops
Why were the rivers of Mesopotamia so important to the invention of writing?
The clay that was formed during floods was used to write on
What was sturdier than stone and used in the first city-states of Sumer?
Bronze weapons and tools
Who was considered to be chosen by the gods to serve this position?
King
Who was believed to be able to speak to the gods?
Priests
What is a myth?
A story about gods that explain people's beliefs
What part of Mesopotamia was Sumer located in?
South
What invention helped Sumerians with trading across long distances?
The sail or sailboats
Which social class was known for being very wealthy and able to read and write?
Nobles or nobility
Who was the main protagonist of Sumer's famous myth?
Enkidu
What is a ziggurat?
The site to the temple to the main god or goddess of the city
What mountain range was closely located to the rivers of Mesopotamia?
The Zagros Mountains
What was created in order to help maintain order in city-states and to protect the people from harm?
Government
Who was responsible for choosing the leader of the city-state?
The priests
In Suner's famous myth, which god was responsible for sending Gilgamesh to earth?
The Sun God