Mesopotamia

Geography

1

The two rivers that flow through Mesopotamia

The Tigris & Euphrates Rivers 

1

It runs from the Persian Gulf to the Mediterranean Sea and Contains land that is good for farming 

The Fertile Crescent 

2

What does Mesopotamia mean ? 

The Land Between two Rivers 

2

What was the First civilization called?

Sumer 

3

What soil is left behind by flood waters and makes the land good for growing crops?

Silt 

Nations

1

In Ancient Mesopotamia were they primary MONOtheistic (believe in one god) or POLYtheistic (believe in many gods)

Polytheism

1

Name 2 of the ancient nations in mesopotamia

Options: Assyrians, Akkadians, Sumerians, Babylonions, Phoenicians, Israelites, 

2

Pyramid-shaped temples where people worshipped Sumerian gods

Ziggurats 

2

Who were the only people who could communicate with the gods?

Priests

3

Who was the leader of the Akkadians?

Sargon the great

Social Classes

1

The highest person in the Sumerian social class.

The King 

1

The people in the middle social class

Farmers and Skilled Workers 

2

True or false: People of all social classes were treated the same under law

FALSE

2

How did the role of women change over time in mesopotamia?

first they had more rights, they could have jobs (make textiles), over time they became restricted

3

The people in the lowest level of the Sumerian social class

Slaves

Writing

1

The name of the Sumerian writing system 

Cuneiform 

1

What did Sumerians use for writing instead of paper?

Clay tablets

2

What are pictograpghs?

Simple pictures that represent objects 

2

what is a stylus?

A sharp tool used to carve into clay tablets

3

What story was carved into 12 tablets and told a mythical story?

The Epic of Gilgamesh

Achievements

1

The Sumerians invented hours made of __________ minutes, and minutes made of _________ seconds

60

1

What Sumerian inventions made transportation easier?

Wheels and Sails

2

What did Sumerians make with bronze ?

Weapons and Tools 

2

What is irrigation?

Digging canals to bring water to crops

3

A scribe is:

Someone trained to read and write in cuneiform

Wild Card

1

What law codes had harsh punishments for crimes like knocking out a person's tooth or slapping one's father 

 Hammurabi's code 

1

Hammurabi carved his laws into

Stone pillars

2

How are Sargon and Cyrus the great different?

Sargon was a harsh ruler

Cyrus was more forgiving

2

The invention of ____________ changed everything, where people were no longer nomads and created civilizations

agriculture/farming

3

What is an independent state with its own ruler and god called?

A city-state