Vocabulary
silt
fine particles of rock, good soil from a river that is left behind after a flood and is good for farming
civilization
a society marked by developed arts, sciences, government, and social structure
Mesopotamia
In ancient times, the geographic area between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers, now present day Iraq
irrigation
a means of supplying land with water
city-states
an early city that was small, independent country with its own laws and government
cuneiform
writing that uses wedge-shaped characters
social stucture
the way a civilization is organized
scribe
a person who writes
artisan
a craftsperson
ziggurats
An ancient Mesopotamian temple tower with an outside staircase and shrine at the top.
pictograph
capital
a city that is the center of the government
vegetation
the plants of a place and region
topography
the shape and elevation of surface features such as mountains or deserts, of a place or region
siege
a military blockade and attack on a city for force it to surrender
empire
a large territory in which several groups of people are ruled by a singe leader or government
tribute
wealth sent from one country or ruler to another as a sign that the other is superior
Hammurabi
King who united Mesopotamia, had the first set of written laws
Hanging Gardens of Babylon
One of the great wonders of the ancient world
Code of Laws
a collection of written laws and rules