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.