Geography
What does Mesopotamia mean?
Land between the rivers
What is a mixture of rich soil and water called?
Silt
What is polytheism?
The belief in more than one god.
What is the name of the Sumerian writing style?
Cuneiform
Did Sumerians invent the wheel?
Yes
What are the names of the rivers that Mesopotamia lies between
The Tigris and Euphrates rivers
What is a way of supplying water to crops called?
Irrigation
Who were the people that performed religious ceremonies?
priests
What did Sumerians write on and with?
Clay tablet and stylus
List two Sumerian inventions other than the wheel
answers will vary
What is the large arc of rich, fertile soil called?
The Fertile Crescent
When there is more than enough of something it is called______.
Surplus
Define Social Hierarchy
the division of society by rank or class
What are picture symbols called?
pictographs
What number did Sumerians base their number system on?
60
Which large body of water do the Tigris and Euphrates empty into?
The Persian Gulf
If the rivers don't flood, and not a lot of silt is deposited there might be a ____________ of crops.
shortage
What was the purpose of a ziggurat?
It was a temple devoted to one or more gods.
A person who writes is called
a scribe
The science of building is called
architecture
In what general direction do the Tigris and Euphrates rivers flow?
South East
Because farmers were able to grow a surplus of food, more people could begin to other jobs besides farming. This is called
Division of Labor
List the Sumerian social classes
King, priests, merchants-traders-craftsmen, farmers, slaves
What are long poems about a hero called?
epics
What three things was jewelry made out of?
Gold, silver, gems