Mesopotamia 1
Which Rivers did Mesopotamia rely on?
What is the Tigris and Euphrates
Why did the Egyptian build pyramids?
They were tombs (and "houses of eternity" for the pharaohs)
Why did the Mesopotamians have a poor view of the afterlife?
Their rivers would flood destructively and unpredictably
Define both Monotheism and Polytheism
Polytheism: Belief in more than 1 god
Monotheism: Belief in 1 god
Name 3 characteristics of civilization
Answers may vary
Cities, Stable Food Supply, System of Government, Religious systems ,Social Structure, Writing language/ record keeping , Cultural Advancement (Technology/Art)
Which groups of people did Hammurabi's code favor?
Wealthy Men
Summarize what Ma'at meant for the Egyptians.
Ma'at was both a religious concept and deity that represented order, balance and justice in the ancient world.
What is the first writing and why did it emerge?
Cuneiform: For record keeping
What were hieroglyphics used for?
They were the sacred writing of the Egyptians used for religous purposes (such as tombs)
Name 3 characteristics of civilizations
Answers may vary
Cities, Stable Food Supply, System of Government, Religious systems ,Social Structure, Writing language/ record keeping , Cultural Advancement (Technology/Art)
Which Mesopotamian civilization was organized into city states?
Sumer
What was Hieratic script used for?
Day to day writing and record keeping
Who was the first conqueror in world history and which civilization did he rule?
Sargon of Akkad
Why did the Egyptians have a positive spiritual belief and expectation of the afterlife?
The Nile flood predictably and non-destructively and help the Egyptians support their agriculture.
How were Egypt and Mesopotamia similar?
Both were river valleys and relied heavily on the flooding/silt their rivers provided. Both were polytheistic. Both had governments that were organized enough to build monumental architecture (Pyramids and Ziggurats)
What is a Theocracy and Divine Right to rule?
Theocracy is the belief in religious authority governing a state, and the divine right rule is the belief that a ruler/s is ruling with authority from the god/s
What is the "Gift of the Nile"?
Freshwater, transportation, silt, etc.
How would you describe Hammurabi's law code in a single sentence
Unfair and "An eye for an eye"
What is a bureaucracy?
A system of government where the most important decisions are made appointed officials, not representatives
How were Egypt and Mesopotamia different?
Egypt was more geographically protected (Sahara, Mediterranean sea)
Mesopotamia was more culturally fragmented (city states, and different types of culture/language ruled)
What does "Decentralized city-states" mean?
Independent city's with their own rulers/governments, not united by any large, powerful or centralized government.
Which geographical features provided protection and were beneficial to the success of the ancient Egyptians (Name two)
The Sahara Desert, the Red Sea, the Mediterranean sea.
What were some of the accomplishments of Babylon?
The well preserved Ishtar Gate, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon
What was the term for people trained to read and write (remember, literacy was rare in the ancient world)?
Scribes
How did geography influence the religious beliefs of these two civilizations differently?
Tigris/Euphrates had violent, unpredictable flooding: Mesopotamia had more negative spiritual outlook
Nile had predictable and nondestructive flooding: Egypt had positive spiritual outlook