Geography
What does the word "Mesopotamia" mean in Ancient Greek?
The Land between the Rivers
What is the term for the belief in many gods?
Polytheism
What circumstances brought about the invention of cuneiform?
Businesses and temple needed to keep track of goods and a writing system needed to be created to keep accurate records.
What did the city state control?
Government, laws, military of their own city
Who was the most powerful person at the top of the hierarchy in Mesopotamian society? Who was directly below this person?
The king and the priests and aristocracy was directly below him.
What river is on the western side of Mesopotamia closest to the Mediterranean Sea?
Euphrates
What group was first in power in early Mesopotamia?
Priests
What was bronze and how did it benefit the economy?
Mix of copper and tin - created stronger tools to make more specialized goods that lasted longer
What circumstances allowed kings to gain power over priests?
War and conflicts
What group was in the third tier of the upper class?
Merchants, scribes, soldiers, artisans
What is the term for mineral and nutrient rich fine sand, clay and other material in river water?
Silt
These were the laws of the universe and foundations for civilization that were created by the god Enlil.
Mes
What led to larger fields, surpluses in food, less time working and more leisure time?
Development of specialized tools
How was the relationship between kings and priests mutually beneficial?
Supported each other
- Kings respected priests powers and leadership in religion and took over duties that priests could not do
- Priests declared that kings were supported by the gods and needed kings to run the government and military
What happened to women's rights in later Mesopotamia?
This invention was the reason for rich farmland, food surpluses, transportation, and the development of trade.
Irrigation
This was a terraced compound that served as a place of worship, a place for priests to communicate with the gods, an administrative workplace and a place to collect and store items paid as taxes to the gods.
Ziggurat
What was a guild and what was the guild responsible for?
Association that oversees the practice of a particular trade. Guild was responsible for regulating the trade and craft, protecting members, and training apprentices.
What jobs did the king have to do?
Manage infrastructure/ Settle disputes between people/ make judgements about problems/ make laws/ lead army to victory/ensure people served their gods
What activities did Mesopotamians enjoy doing in their leisure time?
Salinization
How was religion and economy connected in Mesopotamia?
A percentage of everything was given to the gods and paid as taxes to the ziggurat.
Unique: Portrayed bald men wearing kilts, women in headdresses and long dresses, side profile and large eyes.
Found in palaces, showed development of skills over time, used for trade and found around the ancient world, and displayed religious subjects.
This ruler was the king of Babylon, created the first empire, created a code of laws for the empire, and was considered the greatest ruler of Mesopotamia. What was his greatest achievement?
King Hammurabi - Created Hammurabi's Code
What building was at the center of a Mesopotamian city?
What surrounded the city for protection?
What was located within the city walls?
What was located outside of the city walls?
How did they transport water from the main river to the city?
Ziggurat
Stone Wall
Palace, market, housing
Farmland, River
Canals