The Fertile Crescent & Geography
What two rivers are located in the Fertile Crescent, which helped Mesopotamians grow crops?
The Tigris and Euphrates rivers.
What invention made planting crops more efficient in ancient Sumer?
The seed plow.
What were the independent cities in Sumer called?
City-states.
What type of religion did the Sumerians practice, believing in many gods?
Polytheism.
What was the name of the early writing system created by the Sumerians?
Cuneiform.
What region is Mesopotamia located in, known for its fertile soil?
The Fertile Crescent.
Which technological invention by the Sumerians helped with transportation and military strength?
The wheel.
How did Sumerians trade goods, since they lacked resources like wood and metals?
Through barter (exchanging goods for goods).
What were the large temples that served as both religious and economic centers in Sumer?
Ziggurats.
Which Sumerian king wrote one of the earliest known law codes?
Ur-Nammu.
What advantage did the location of Mesopotamia offer for growing crops?
Fertile soil, supported by irrigation from the Tigris and Euphrates rivers.
How did bronze tools impact Sumerian society?
They helped improve agriculture, transportation, and military strength.
Name two of the first city-states that emerged in Sumer.
Uruk and Ur.
Who had the most power in Sumerian society, influencing both religion and governance?
Priests.
What was one of the main purposes of Sumerian cuneiform when it was first created?
Record-keeping, particularly for tracking trade and crops.
How did the development of irrigation affect Sumerian society?
It allowed Sumerians to grow more food and support larger populations, even during dry periods.
What major technological invention allowed the Sumerians to improve transportation and agricultural work?
The wheel.
Why were Sumerian city-states independent from one another?
Each city-state had its own government, laws, and gods.
Why were priests so powerful in Sumerian society?
They were seen as intermediaries between the people and the gods, controlling the ziggurats and influencing governance.
What was one of the earliest legal standards established by Ur-Nammu’s law code?
Rules for marriage, property, and personal conduct.
Why was the Fertile Crescent important for the development of early civilizations, including Mesopotamia?
Its fertile soil, supported by the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, allowed for successful agriculture, leading to food surpluses and growing populations.
How did the Sumerians use bronze tools in warfare?
They used bronze tools to make weapons that improved military strength and helped protect their cities.
How did the Sumerians make up for their lack of natural resources like wood and metals?
They relied on trade and barter with other regions to obtain the materials they needed.
What role did ziggurats serve in Sumerian society besides being religious centers?
They also acted as economic hubs, where trade and other economic activities occurred.
How did the shift from priest-led to king-led governance affect Sumerian society?
Military leaders became kings during conflicts over resources, and they worked alongside priests to maintain order, enforce laws, and manage public works.