Geography
What two rivers bordered Mesopotamia?
Tigris and Euphrates Rivers
What is the belief in many gods called?
Polytheism
What was the world’s first writing system invented by the Sumerians?
Cuneiform
What type of government is ruled by a single king?
Monarchy
What is it called when a society produces more than what is needed?
Surplus
What is a division of society based on rank or class called?
Social hierarchy
What is the Fertile Crescent?
A region of rich farmland in the Middle East
What does the word “Mesopotamia” mean in Greek?
Land between the rivers
What is the name of Mesopotamia’s pyramid-shaped temple?
Ziggurat
What mathematical system did Mesopotamians create that gave us 60 minutes in an hour?
Base-60 number system
Who was the Babylonian king that wrote a famous law code?
Hammurabi
What system of trade existed before money was invented?
Barter system
Who usually had more power in Mesopotamian society: men or women?
Men
True or False: The Sumerians invented the plow, the wheel, and the sailboat.
True
What region of rich farmland included Mesopotamia and parts of the Middle East?
The Fertile Crescent
Which epic story tells of a king who wanted to live forever?
The Epic of Gilgamesh
What invention helped transport people and goods over land?
The wheel
Who was the first leader to rule an empire in Mesopotamia?
Sargon of Akkad
Why did the Phoenicians depend on trade?
They had little farmland/resources and used the sea to trade
What role did priests have in Mesopotamian cities?
They communicated with the gods and led religious rituals
Which group of people created one of the first alphabets?
Phoenicians
How did irrigation help Mesopotamians survive in their environment?
It provided water for crops and allowed farming in a dry climate
Which Mesopotamian religion influenced Judaism, Christianity, and Islam?
Zoroastrianism
What tool did scribes use to write on clay tablets?
Reed stylus
What did Hammurabi’s Code reveal about social classes in Babylon?
Laws and punishments were unequal depending on class
Why was purple dye so expensive in Phoenicia?
It came from rare sea snails and was difficult to make
What group of people had the lowest position in Mesopotamian society?
Slaves
Why did Cyrus the Great allow conquered people to keep their religions and customs?
To increase loyalty and reduce rebellions in his empire
Why was Mesopotamia called the “cradle of civilization”?
It was the birthplace of the first cities and complex societies
How did religion give rulers power in Mesopotamia?
Kings claimed their authority came from the gods
Why is Enheduanna remembered in history?
She is the world’s first known author
What Persian king built the Royal Road to connect his empire?
Darius I
How did Darius I improve the Persian economy?
He created standard coinage and required tribute payments
How did Hammurabi’s laws treat people differently depending on their class?
Punishments were harsher for lower classes and more lenient for higher classes
Put these civilizations in order: Sumerians, Akkadians, Babylonians, Assyrians, Phoenicians, Persians.
Sumerians → Akkadians → Babylonians → Assyrians → Phoenicians → Persians
Why was controlling the rivers both a blessing and a challenge for Mesopotamian farmers?
The rivers provided fertile soil and water for farming, but unpredictable floods and droughts could destroy crops and property.
How did Mesopotamian religion influence their view of nature and daily life?
They believed gods controlled natural events like floods and harvests, so success or disaster was seen as the will of the gods.
Why was cuneiform such an important development beyond just writing stories?
It allowed people to keep business records, create law codes, and preserve knowledge, making complex government and trade possible.
How did Hammurabi’s Code help strengthen the power of the king?
By writing laws that applied across his empire, Hammurabi unified people under one legal system, showing his authority came from both law and the gods.
How did surplus food lead to both the division of labor and social hierarchy?
Surplus food meant not everyone needed to farm, so people specialized in new jobs; this created differences in wealth and status that shaped the social classes.
Why were punishments in Hammurabi’s Code unequal for different classes, and what does this reveal about Babylonian society?
Punishments were harsher for lower classes and slaves, showing that society valued the wealthy and powerful more than the poor.
Why do historians call Mesopotamia the “crossroads of civilization”?
Its location between rivers and along trade routes connected it to many regions, making it a center for cultural exchange, trade, and conflict.