Mesopotamia Geography
The land of Ancient Mesopotamia between these two rivers?
Tigris & Euphrates River
What was built in Ancient Mesopotamia to honor gods?
The Ziggurats
Name some Inventions / Achievements of the Ancient Mesopotamians
(Mesopotamia Achievements)
• Sailboats
• Plow
• Wheel
• Irrigation built levees
• number systems based on 60
• Metal
• Cueniform
• Epic of Gilgamesh
City-States were ruled by who?
(Mesopotamia Politics)
Kings (war heroes)
What were jobs in Ancient Mesopotamia?
(Mesopotamia Economy)
Mesopotamian Jobs = Farmers, fishers, merchants, traders, artisans
How many classes were there in Ancient Mesopotamia Social Structure
(Mesopotamia Social Structure)
3
Describe the climate and geography of Ancient Mesoptamia
• Hot & Dry Climate
• Flat Muddy Plains, No Forests
What did the Ancient Mesoptamians Believe in?
• Many Gods (polytheism)
• That Gods controlled all aspects of life
• Priests were powerful and did religious ceremonies
What are some positive results of being the first civilization with an organized system of writing?
Written down records and laws for people to carry out.
Recorded taxes
People were held accountable which made for a more civil environment to live
How was Ancient Mesopotamia governed?
(Mesopotamia Politics)
City-States ruled by Kings (war heroes)
• Kings became hereditary
• City- States often at war with eachother
What did Ancient Mesopotamians Trade for?
(Mesopotamia Economy)
Metal & Timber
Who makes up the Upper Class of Ancient Mesopotamia
(Mesopotamia Social Structure)
Mesopotamia Upper Class = priests, kings and government officials
Nope!
In Ancient Mesopotamia, What does Polythesic Mean?
Believed in Multiple Gods
What number system did the Ancient Mesopotamians Create?
(Mesopotamia Achievements)
Based on 60
• 60 minute, 60 second
• 360 degree circle
What was the first Empire in Ancient Mesopotamia?
(Mesopotamia Politics)
Akkadian
Why do we think they traded for metal and timber? How do we know this?
(Mesopotamia Economy)
From Cuneiform Records
Who makes up the Middle Class of Ancient Mesopotamia
(Mesopotamia Social Structures)
Mesopotamia Middle Class - Artisans, fisherman, merchants
What bodies of water is Ancient Mesopotamia Between other than the rivers?
The Persian Gulf & Mediterranean Sea
What was the role of Priests in Ancient Mesopotamia?
(Mesopotamia Religion)
Priests were powerful and did religious ceremonies
One of Mesopotamia's greatest accomplishments were their ability to build canals and dams that controlled the water flow throughout the city. What is this system called?
The Irrigation system
Nebuchadnezzar built what city?
(Mesopotamia Politics)
City of Babylon
What did Scribes go to school for in Ancient Mesopotamia
(Mesopotamia Economy)
To learn to write / government officials
Who makes up the Lower Class of Ancient Mesopotamia?
(Mesopotamia Social Structure)
Slaves
What are the early cities of Ancient Mesopotamia
Babylon, Ur
What aspects did Gods control of Ancient Mesopotamian's lives?
(Mesopotamian Religion)
ALL aspects
Sumerian's were some of the first people to build structures in honor of their Gods. They were called__________________.
Ziggurats
What was the Code of Hammurabi in Ancient Mesopotamia?
(Mesopotamia Politics)
The first code of laws!
What is someone called when they go to school to learn to write and become government officials?
(Mesopotamia Economy)
Scribes
What was the Social Structure of Mesopotamia?
(Mesopotamia Social Structure)
3 classes - upper / middle / lower