Vocabulary
Define city-state & give an example
•A city that is an individual unit, complete with its own form of government and traditions.
example: Sumer
When did the farming begin in the fertile crescent?
Where was Mesopotamia located?
The fertile crescent sweeps across Southwest Asia.
What new tool did they build for farming? What was it used for?
An ox-driven plow was built. It was used to break up the hard soil and prepare large areas for planting.
What is polytheism?
Polytheism is the believe in more than one god.
What are rituals?
A series of acts that are performed the same way.
When did the first civilization rise in Sumer?
What are the 2 rivers that it is between?
Tigris & Euphrates
What new technology was invented to help with their water problems.
Irrigation systems
How did the priests try to please their gods?
By conducting religious practices & offering them food.
what's a deity?
a god or goddess
Hoe did food surplus encourage local & long-distance trade?
Sumerians used their food surplus to trade natural resources that they lacked such as building materials & stone.
How did the rivers make the growth of civilization in Mesopotamia possible?
They were the primary source of fresh water in the region.
What were Sumerians able to develop after the priests observed the movement of the sun, moon & stars?
They developed a calendar, Mathematics & astronomy.
Where was the deity believed to live?
In a shrine on top of the ziggurat.
What is the name of temple and the holy or sacred place that the statue was placed in?
ziggurat and the holy place is an adytum
State the social class of the Sumerian society
Kings
Priests
Administrators, scribes, merchants & artisans
Farmers
Slaves
What forms the borders of Mesopotamia?
The Zagros mountains to the north & east, the Euphrates to the west and the Persian gulf to the south.
Why did Sumerians develop cuneiform?
They wanted to keep track or business transactions....trade...etc
What was the detailed pictographs that evolved into symbols called?
cuneiform
What kind of statues were placed in the temples?
votive statues
what is Mesopotamia known as today?
Iraq
Why was it called the 'Cradle of Civilization'?
Because of the advances in government, technology & culture that took place.
What did they use to write on?
clay that dried up