vocabulary
the arc of fertile land also called Mesopotamia
The Fertile Crescent
a group of land under one ruler
empire
a man-made system for watering crops
irrigation
temples where Sumerians believed gods and goddesses ruled the city
ziggurats
What were the 2 rivers that surrounded the Fertile Cresent?
Euphrates and Tigris
complex societies
civilizations
the name of the ruler who made all of the laws that followed "an eye for an eye" thinking
Hammurabi
The first recorded system of writing was called ___________
cuneiform
Who made the rules in Mesopotamia?
priests and high religious leaders
Name 2 of the bodies of water that surrounded Mesopotamia other than the 2 closest rivers.
Mediterranean sea
Caspian Sea
Persian Gulf
Red Sea
the name for a king or queen
monarch
What is the word that describes how the social pyramid is organized?
hierarchy
What was cuneiform written with?
a clay tablet and a sharp writing tool
Who was able to learn to read and write?
only people with money and status
What is the name of a skilled worker who made various products?
artisan
extra or more resources than necessary
surplus
Unlike in other areas at the time, what group had many rights in Mesopotamia?
Women
What was the Sumerian innovation related to the way we tell time today?
the 60-minute hour
What type of people were those who first arrived to Mesopotamia?
hunters and gatherers
The soil in Mesopotamia was fertile and full of _____
salt
a city and its surrounding land
a city-state
Who was at the top of the social pyramid and who was just below them
Monarchs were at the top and priests and military commanders were underneath them
Name at least 4 things Mesopotamians invented.
possible answers:
the wheel
the 60-minute hour
irrigation systems
money for trading writing
Why were ziggurats in the center of city states?
because the people believed they would watch over them
What happened as a result of the irrigation system being created and used in Mesopotamia?
The soil became too salty and could no longer grow crops