Geography is Super Important!
The name Mesopotamia literally means this...
"the land between two rivers"
Define:
City-State
Cities that shared things like language and trade by acted like their own separate little countries with their own rulers.
To be considered the first civilization, the Sumerians had to check off five boxes. List the five requirements for a civilization mentioned in the sources.
1. ________________ (like the city-states they built)
1. Advanced Cities (like the city-states they built)
Religion was a big deal for the Sumerians. Who was their number one god?
Their most important god was Enlil, the god of the air and clouds.
What does BCE stand for?
Before Common Era
The two important rivers that flow through the desert of Mesopotamia are the _______ and the _________.
Tigris and Euphrates
Define:
Cuneiform
The earliest system of writing ever developed, which started as pictures and turned into a written language. It was used to create the first recorded history.
To be considered the first civilization, the Sumerians had to check off five boxes. List the five requirements for a civilization mentioned in the sources.
2. _______________ (people with different jobs like building, writing, or farming)
2. Specialized Workers (people with different jobs like building, writing, or farming)
Why was the god Enlil so important to the Sumerians?
Enlil, the god of the air and clouds, was so important because their crops were their life, and they needed rain and the floods for the ground not to dry up so they could eat.
I was the leader of the Akkadians, and around 2,350 BCE, my people took over Sumer. I get credit for creating the world's first empire! Who am I?
Sargon of Akkad
This area is located in a region that looks like a crescent, stretching from the __________ to the ___________.
Mediterranean Sea to the Persian Gulf
Define:
Ziggurat
A large, pyramid-like structure that was at the center of every Sumerian city-state. It served as a religious city hall, with a temple in the middle.
To be considered the first civilization, the Sumerians had to check off five boxes. List the five requirements for a civilization mentioned in the sources.
3._______________ (organizations for government, military, and religion that set the rules)
3. Complex Institutions (organizations for government, military, and religion that set the rules)
Name two social classes in Sumner who were the least powerful.
The workers and the slaves.
We were a nomadic tribe that overran the Sumerians around 2,000 BCE. We made our capital at Babylon. Who are we?
The Amorites (or Babylonians)
Once a year, the rivers would flood, leaving behind a very moist and awesome soil call silt, which was great for growing crops like ___________ and ___________.
(Hint: one of the crops shares a name with one person in this class)
Barley and Wheat
Define:
Polytheistic
The religious idea of worshipping many gods. The Sumerians worshipped about 3,000 gods!
To be considered the first civilization, the Sumerians had to check off five boxes. List the five requirements for a civilization mentioned in the sources.
4. ______________ (which they did using their writing system, cuneiform)
4. Record Keeping (which they did using their writing system, cuneiform)
Name two social classes in Sumer that were the MOST powerful.
The Kings (or rulers) and the Priests.
We are known by two names. We are known as the Amorites or the __________.
Babylonians
While flooding provided great soil, the hot sun would dry up everything, which created a challenge. The Sumerians solved this problem by learning how to irrigate, moving water from the ________ to their __________.
River to their Crops
Define:
Empire
More than just a city-state or civilization, it's when one group takes control of other lands and peoples, expanding their territory.
To be considered the first civilization, the Sumerians had to check off five boxes. List the five requirements for a civilization mentioned in the sources.
5. _______________ (inventing new things)
5. Advanced Technology (inventing new things)
What was life like for women in Sumerian society?
Sumner was a society run by men (a patriarchal society). However, unlike in later civilizations, women in Sumner could have almost any job, including being priests or merchants, and they could own property. The one thing they were not allowed to do was learn to write.
I was the most famous leader of the Babylonians. I tried to look after my people and believed in law and order, so I created 282 laws for everyone in the empire to follow. Who am I?
Hammurabi