Mesopotamia Study Guide

Mesopotamia Study Guide TEST: October 22nd, 2008 Name: ___________________________________

Vocabulary Cuneiform: system of writing. Wedge-shaped Civilization: group of people in complex, organized society Irrigation: method of watering crops Ziggurat: huge, pyramid-shaped structure formed from a series of stacked rectangular platforms. A temple used to worship the gods. city-state: city that is an individual unit, compelte with its own form of government and traditions. Polytheism: belief in many gods Monotheism: belief in one god society : formed by establishing rules and traditions in an organized community fertile: rich soil, good for growing barter: the exchange of goods and services Know the following material: 4 Major gods/goddess -Enlil -Anu -Ninhursag -Enki The two major rivers in Mesopotamia -Tigris and Euphrates

The first civilization -Mesopotamia The area between the Mediterranean Sea and Persian Gulf -Fertile Crescent Important contributions made by Mesopotamia -Wheel -Writing system, cuneiform -Irrigation -Money -Mathematics Why Mesopotamia built such huge religious temples -show the importance of religion to society How Mesopotamia farmers solved the problem of low rainfall -irrigated their crops/fields What allows people to control when and how much they water their crops -irrigation How did the people of Mesopotamia get the things they lacked -Trading What two things did Sumer and Akkad fight over -Water and Land How were kings chosen in Mesopotamia? -Kings chosen by the gods Who was abandoned on a river, raised by a farmer and soon became king -Sargon “An Eye for and eye and tooth for a tooth” is part of what set of laws? -Code of Hammurabi Polytheism -Belief in many gods

The essential element for human development -Fresh Water Surplus and how it affected the rise of civilization -having more than you need. An extra supply. -Allowed Mesopotamia to grow and become powerful The link between heaven and earth for Mesopotamia -Ziggurat The Sumer class system 1. Kings 2. Wealthy Business people 3. Farmers/artisans 4. Slaves Two Major city-states of Mesopotamia -Sumer and Akkad The inventor of the modern alphabet -Phoenicians The inventor of the first coins -Lydians The group who placed a high value on war and conquest -Assyria Who’s death caused the split into Israel and Judah? -Solomon Babylonia -what was their advancement in math? Place Value According to the Hebrew Bible, who was the first Jew? -Abraham The Hebrew people moved from Canaan to where? -Egypt What is the Hebrew bible called? -Torah

Who united the Hebrews and united Israel? -King David Monotheism -Belief in one god Who was given the 10 Commandments? -Moses Mesopotamia in Lego’s Video Section Parts 1 and 2: Know the answers to those questions. Make sure you have both of the sheets. From Nomads to Farmers Video: Know the answers to those questions. Development of Written Language Video: Know the answers to those questions.