Vocab
fertile soil
What rivers are on either side of Mesopotamia?
Euphrates and Tigris
What type of ruler did they have?
A King
What was their economy based on?
Trading
What does Mesoamerica mean?
"Middle America"
Define monotheism.
Belief in one god
What are disadvantages of living next to a river?
Flooding
What kind of government is this?
Monarchy
What achievement improved farming?
Plow and irrigation
How were the Israelites beliefs different than the Sumerians?
They believed in one God.
What is polytheism?
Belief in many gods
What did Sumerians believe about the gods involvement in daily life?
They believed they controlled all aspects of life.
Who was at the top of their social structure?
Kings, priests, warriors, government officials
What did cuneiform lead to?
Scribes or written records
What king took Israelites as prisoners?
Nebuchadnezzar
Define scribe.
A person who copies or writes out documents - often a record keeper.
What are ziggurats and were they built for?
Pyramid shaped structure with a temple on top. It was built to worship the gods.
Where did kings get their power from?
The gods
What is Hammurabi most known for?
Hammurabi's Code
Where did people settle in Mesoamerica?
Next to rivers
What is irrigation?
A system that supplies dry land with water through ditches, pipes, or streams.
Why did civilizations settle next to rivers?
Water source, farming, traveling, and trading
What were mens and womens roles in Mesopotamia?
Men: Head of the household
Women: stayed home and took care of the kids, had few rights
How did Hammurabi's Code help other civilizations?
Provided an example of laws to create a structured and organized society
How were Mesopotamia and Mesoamerica similar?
Both settled next to rivers, focused on agriculture and trading