Geography and Agriculture
Name the two rivers of Mesopotamia
Tigris and Euphrates Rivers
List three Mesopotamian inventions or achievements:
Answers vary but can include:
1. invented the wheel
2. plow
3. cuneiform writing
4. irrigation systems
Who held the most power in Mesopotamia?
What are the priests and kings?
Where were the Phoenicians located?
Along the Mediterranean Sea
Who was Cyrus the Great and what is he known for?
He was the founder of the Persian Empire and expanding it.
What is the nickname sometimes given to the area between these rivers?
Mesopotamia
What is cuneiform?
Cuneiform was used to record trade, laws, stories, and daily life
What were the main social classes in Mesopotamia?
Farmers and laborers
Priests and kings
Merchants and artisans
Slaves
Why were the Phoenicians skilled sailors and traders?
How did the Persian Empire manage to rule such a large territory effectively?
By dividing the empires into provinces and appointing governors to rule them.
How did the rivers influence the development of cities?
The rivers provided fresh water, fertile soil (silt), transportation, and irrigation for farming
What is the purpose of ziggurats?
It was a temple built to honor the gods.
What was the Assyrian Empire known for?
The Assyrian Empire was known for its strong military and advanced weapons.
What types of goods did the Phoenicians trade?
Answers vary
Cedar wood, glass, purple dye, etc.
What was the purpose of the Royal Road?
The Royal Road helped the empire by allowing fast communication and trade.
What natural challenges farmers faced in Mesopotamia?
A surplus (means extra food, which allowed populations to grow and helped civilizations develop)
Why were priests important?
Priests were important because they communicated with the gods and performed rituals.
What did the Neo-Babylonian Empire do for civilization?
The Neo-Babylonian Empire advanced astronomy and mathematics.
How did their alphabet influence later cultures?
A way to record info
Communicate across distances and
Preserve knowledge
How did the Persian Empire treat conquered peoples?
By allowing them to keep their religion and local customs.
How did the Mesopotamians solve flooding problems?
Irrigation (is a system to bring water to fields, such as canals, levees, and ditches)
Why was The Code of Hammurabi important for Mesopotamia?
It established rules and punishments for the society.
What did the Persians use satraps for?
The Persians used satraps (governors) to rule different regions of the empire.
Why were Phoenician city-states independent rather than unified?
Because of their geography. There was no farm land. They had natural harbors which was good for sailing.
Where did the Persian Empire expand to? (You must name all regions!)
The Persian Empire expanded across Asia, the Middle East, and North Africa.