Vocab
city-state
a city with its own king; like a tiny country
Name the Sumerian invention that allowed them to dig trenches for their seeds more quickly and led to a stable food supply.
Plow
What does "status" mean when we are discussing the characteristics of civilization?
Importance
Define an empire
a large territory in which diverse people are governed by one ruler (an emperor)
What's an example or artifact that shows the Sumerians had stable food supply?
Moat
a trench or ditch around a city wall and filled with water; keeps out intruders
Name the wheeled Sumerian vehicle that allowed Sumerian soldiers to get places more quickly.
Chariot
What inventions prove the Sumerians had technology?
Lyre, Plow, Chariot (wheel), Clay Tablet (writing), Copper and Bronze statues and the Gold Cup (metalworking)
What is the definition of a tribute?
A payment made to a king of food or other goods
What are the names of the two rivers in Sumer?
Tigris and Euphrates
What's the different between a canal and a reservoir?
A canal is a man-made river and a reservoir is a man-made pond
Name the stringed instrument that Sumerians played for the queen at parties
Lyre
What is the Sumerians' writing system named?
Cuneiform
What is a bas-relief and how does it relate to a stele?
Bas-relief is a 3-D sculpture with a flat back. It was often used to decorate steles, or stones that the Sumerians carved to show their accomplishments.
What is the name of the region Sumer was in?
Mesopotamia
What is the difference between a dam and a levee
A dam goes across water, a levee is built along the side
What is the name of the Sumerians' religious tower?
Ziggurat
What examples show the Sumerians had government?
The ensi (bronze statue), the queen (the lyre), the governors (clay seal)
Who was Sargon and what is he best known for?
Sargon was the first emperor of the Akkadian Empire and he is best known for having a trained professional army, inventing tributes, and generally being a pretty harsh ruler.
What artifacts or examples show the Sumerians had religion?
The ziggurat, shrines (the Married Couple), the gods and goddesses (like Enki, Marduk, Tiamat, and Ishtar)
Irrigation System (don't give examples; define it)
An irrigation system is a man-made system for moving water to fields or crops
To make sure everyone knew the laws (and punishments) and to make sure the laws couldn't be changed depending on the mood of the leader.
What is Social Structure?
Social Structure is when everyone has a role in society and some people have more status than others
What is the name of the part of the ocean that touched ancient Sumer?
Persian Gulf