Geography of the Fertile Crescent
Mesopotamian farmers built *blank* to irrigate their fields.
canals
While city dwellers were urban, farmers lived in *blank* areas.
rural
Instead of using pictographs, Sumerians developed a type of writing called *blank*.
cuneiform
Horse-drawn *blank* gave the Hittites an advantage during battle.
chariots
Where was Mesopotamia, and what does the name mean?
It was located between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, and the name means "between the rivers" in Greek.
Sumerian society was organized in *blank*, which consisted of a city and the surrounding lands.
city-states
What was the Sumerian writing system called, and why is it so significant?
Cuneiform; It is significant because it is the world's first system of writing.
The Babylonian king *blank* is famous for his code of laws.
Hammurabi
How did Mesopotamian irrigation systems allow civilization to develop?
They allowed the people to control the flow of the rivers and produce a surplus of food, which freed people to create a civilization.
Who built the world's first empire, and what land did the empire include?
Sargon; the area between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers and much of Mesopotamia
What were two ways in which Sumerian society was similar to our society today? What were two ways in which it was different?
Similar: (1)students went to school to learn to read and write, (2)they produced make up and jewelry, (3) enjoyed music
Different: (1)their writing was cuneiform (2)they wrote on clay tablets
What were two important developments of the Phoenicians?
Purple dye, founded Carthage, developed an alphabet
Do you think a division of labor is necessary for civilization to develop? Why or why not?
Possible answer: Yes, because it allows people to focus on building a civilization rather than just surviving.
Politically, how was early Sumerian society organized? How did that organization affect society?
Kings and priests made up the upper class, while the middle class was craftspeople, merchants, and traders and the working class consisted of farmers and laborers. Slaves were at the bottom. Priests and the wealthy ruled society, while the working class supported them.
Wild card: Other than writing and the wheel, which Sumerian invention do you think is most important? Why?
*Group debate*
Why do you think several peoples banded together to fight the Assyrians?
Possible answer: Separately they stood no chance, but by banding together they were able to make an impact.
Why did the Sumerians consider it everyone's responsibility to keep the gods happy?
The gods had great powers, and in order for the people to lead happy and prosperous lives, everyone had to do their part in keeping the gods happy.
Wild card: Do you think Hammurabi was more effective as a ruler or as a military leader? Why?
*Group with most supportive facts takes wins the points*