Mesopotamia Geography
Why was the Fertile Crescent given its name?
A. It was surrounded completely by water.
B. It had fertile land shaped like a crescent.
C. It was the largest desert in the world.
D. It was shaped like a full moon.
B. It had fertile land shaped like a crescent.
What is irrigation?
A. A system for bringing water to crops
B. A type of Mesopotamian government
C. A system of writing
D. A religious ceremony
A. A system for bringing water to crops
What does polytheism mean?
A. Belief in no gods
B. Belief in one god
C. Belief in many gods
D. Belief that kings are gods
C. Belief in many gods
Which form of government is ruled by a king or queen?
A. Democracy
B. Theocracy
C. Monarchy
D. Republic
C. Monarchy
What was cuneiform?
A. A Mesopotamian writing system
B. A farming tool
C. A religious building
D. A government system
A. A Mesopotamian writing system
Mesopotamia developed between these two important rivers.
A. Nile and Tigris
B. Nile and Euphrates
C. Tigris and Euphrates
D. Indus and Euphrates
Tigris and Euphrates Rivers
What did Mesopotamians build to move river water to their fields?
A. Ziggurats
B. Canals
C. Palaces
D. Roads
B. Canals
Which structure was an important center of religion in Sumerian cities?
A. Pyramid
B. Ziggurat
C. Aqueduct
D. Castle
B. Ziggurat
What is an empire?
A. Multiple territories or groups controlled by one central ruler
B. One independent city and its surrounding land
C. A society without a government
D. A government controlled directly by citizens
A. Multiple territories or groups controlled by one central ruler
What was the job of a scribe?
A. Build irrigation canals
B. Lead the army
C. Read, write, and keep records
D. Grow crops for the king
C. Read, write, and keep records
Which body of water is located west of Mesopotamia and north of Egypt?
A. Mediterranean Sea
B. Red Sea
C. Persian Gulf
D. Black Sea
Mediterranean Sea
What is a food surplus?
A. A shortage of food
B. Food that is traded from another country
C. More food than people need
D. Food saved only for kings
C. More food than people need
Why did Sumerians worship and make offerings to their gods?
A. They believed the gods controlled important parts of life and nature.
B. They wanted to become scribes.
C. They were required to learn cuneiform.
D. They believed religion was unimportant.
A. They believed the gods controlled important parts of life and nature.
Which Mesopotamian ruler created an empire by conquering Sumerian city-states?
A. Hammurabi
B. Gilgamesh
C. Justinian
D. Sargon
D. Sargon
How did metal-smithing improve Mesopotamian technology?
A. It ended the need for farming.
B. It allowed people to make more advanced tools.
C. It stopped trade between cities.
D. It created democracy.
B. It allowed people to make more advanced tools.
Why were the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers important to Mesopotamian farmers?
A. They protected farmers from invading armies.
B. They provided metal for tools.
C. They prevented all flooding.
Why were the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers important to Mesopotamian farmers?
A. They protected farmers from invading armies.
B. They provided metal for tools.
C. They prevented all flooding.
D. They provided water that could be used for irrigation.
D. They provided water that could be used for irrigation.
How did food surpluses lead to job specialization?
A. Everyone became a farmer.
B. People stopped producing goods.
C. People were required to join the army.
D. Some people could work at jobs other than farming.
D. Some people could work at jobs other than farming.
Which statement BEST describes religion in Sumer?
A. Only kings participated in religion.
B. Sumerians did not believe gods affected nature.
C. Religion was separate from people's everyday lives.
D. Religion influenced many parts of everyday life.
D. Religion influenced many parts of everyday life.
Sargon conquered several city-states and brought them under one central government. What did this create?
A. A democracy
B. An empire
C. A ziggurat
D. A religion
B. An empire
Why was writing important to the growth of civilizations?
A. It made everyone socially equal.
B. It eliminated the need for trade.
C. It gave everyone the same job.
D. It made storing and sharing information more accurate.
D. It made storing and sharing information more accurate.
How did improvements in agriculture help Mesopotamia's economy grow?
A. People produced extra food and goods that could be traded.
B. People stopped specializing in different jobs.
C. Farmers stopped using irrigation.
D. Communities became completely isolated from one another.
A. People produced extra food and goods that could be traded.
Before planting his crops, a Sumerian farmer gives an offering to a god. What does this BEST demonstrate?
A. Farmers controlled the government.
B. Religious beliefs influenced people's decisions and activities.
C. Sumerians practiced monotheism.
D. Farmers were at the top of the social hierarchy.
B. Religious beliefs influenced people's decisions and activities.
What is the BEST difference between a city-state and an empire?
A. City-states never had rulers.
B. Empires were always democracies.
C. A city-state is an independent city and surrounding territory, while an empire controls multiple territories.
D. Empires were smaller than city-states.
C. A city-state is an independent city and surrounding territory, while an empire controls multiple territories.
Why is the Code of Hammurabi historically important?
A. It is an early example of a written system of laws.
B. It created the first writing system.
C. It introduced polytheism to Mesopotamia.
D. It created the first irrigation system.
A. It is an early example of a written system of laws.