VOCAB 1
What is a canal?
a waterway made by people, for the purpose of transportation or to carry/control water and irrigate farms
What is G and what does it relate to?
Geography- how the earth's surface, climate, and landscape affect the way people live
Why did people move to the fertile crescent?
People moved to the Fertile Crescent because the rivers there created rich soil which was great for farming.
How did geography improve the lives of people in ancient Mesopotamia?
People lived along the Tigris and Euphrates rivers which provided the fertile soil for easier farming and water for drinking and transportation.
What is polytheism?
the belief in more than one god
What is a ziggurat?
a massive temple building with rising layers
What is R and what does it relate to?
Religion- a society's belief system and related traditions
Why was the Code of Hammurabi so important?
Hammurabi’s Code was important because for the first time, laws were written down.
How did religion influence the lives of people in ancient Mesopotamia?
People had created statues to pray to in their place or worship. Religion influenced their laws and government. Priests were regarded as upper class and just as important as the king.
What is a scribe?
a person who works as a professional writer for the government or for a business
What is a city state?
A city-state is its own small country; it has its own king (or other style of government) and does not belong to any bigger nation.
What is A and what does it relate to?
Achievements- the lasting works and contributions of a society
Why were scribes important to the ancient world?
Scribes were important to the people of the ancient world because they kept important records.
How did achievements improve the lives of people in ancient Mesopotamia?
The achievements the people of Mesopotamia made were to make their lives easier. Things like the wheel, the calendar, the first set of written down laws, were created to make people's lives easier.
What is cuneiform?
the system of ancient writing invented in Sumer. The name comes from the wedge shape of the letters pressed into wet clay.
What is a patron god?
a particular god/goddess adopted and honored by a group or community. Every Sumerian city state had its own patron god they prayed to.
What is P and what does it relate to?
The power and structure of a society and who runs that society.
Why was a ziggurat built with terraces?
The ziggurat was made of terraces because people believed that the gods used it to come down to Earth.
How did politics improve the lives of people in ancient Mesopotamia?
Having a set of laws that were written down allowed people to know the rules and control people and prevent chaos. The laws were connected to the religion of the city-state so that way people could ensure an after-life.
What does conquer mean?
to overcome or take over another groups of people by force; usually done by a government
What is an empire?
a major political unit having a territory of great extent under one ruler
What is E and S and what do they relate to?
Economy-how a society uses its resources like money and goods.
Social Structure- the organization of people into different levels or classes in society
How was economics important to the people in ancient Mesopotamia?
Trade was important to the people because they could have specialized jobs and still be able to get what they needed. They could be a farmer and trade their crops for other supplies such as farming equipment made by someone else, or clothes made by a weaver.
How was social structure important to people in ancient Mesopotamia?
Social structure was important because it allowed people to establish order, roles, and responsibilities within society, ensuring stability and organization.
What is mythology?
a collection of ancient stories that help explain the world