Early Humans
A person who moves from place to place in search of food
Nomad
A geographical area of fertile land in the Middle East stretching in a broad semicircle from the Nile to the Tigris and Euphrates
Fertile Crescent
a period of human culture between the Stone Age and the Iron Age, characterized by the use of weapons and implements made of bronze
Bronze Age
The end of a river where rich deposits of silt build-up. This is important to human habitation due to the excellent source of good farmland.
River Delta
A rectangular tiered temple or terraced mound erected by the ancient Assyrians and Babylonians
Ziggurat
People who hunt animals and gather wild plants, seeds, fruits, and nuts to survive
Hunter Gather
Founded by the Sumerians of Mesopotamia (Iraq)
Ur
A collection of 282 laws. One of the first examples of written law in the ancient world.
Code of Hammurabi
Major winds in the Indian Ocean blew into India for half the year, and blew away from India for the other half. Helped facilitate trade in the Indian Ocean.
Monsoon
A form of writing developed by the Sumerians using a wedge shaped stylus and clay tablets.
Cuneiform
A period of extremely cold temperatures when part of the planet's surface was covered with massive ice sheets.
Ice Age
Very harsh people who exploited the use of iron weapons to build their Mesopotamian empire, which lasted less than 100 years.
Assyrians
The "blue" gate into Babylon. It was built by Nebuchadnezzar.
Ishtar Gate
Two rivers that form the outside border of Mesopotamia
Tigris and Euphrates
The spread of ideas, customs, and technologies from one people to another
Cultural Diffusion
"New Stone Age"; About 10,000 years ago marked by advances in the production of stone tools. The shift from hunting and gathering to agriculture
Neolithic Age
The southern region of Mesopotamia were the earliest known cities that arose. Between Tigris and Euphrates rivers.
Sumeria
Supplying land with water through a network of canals
Irrigation
A series of rulers from the same family
Dynasty
A legendary Sumerian king who was the hero of an epic collection of mythic stories
Gilgamesh
The time when human beings first domesticated plants and animals and no longer relied entirely on hunting and gathering
Agricultural Revolution
The chief city of ancient Mesopotamia and capital of the ancient kingdom of Babylonia
Babylon
A city with political and economic control over the surrounding countryside
City-state
A region between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers that developed the first urban societies.
Mesopotamia
A government-controlled by religious leaders
Theocracy