2.1 Mesopotamia

Question 1

Where and what, is the Fertile Crescent?

Answer 1

(Became known as Mesopotamia)
The Fertile Cresent is a region between the Persian Gulf, and the Mediterranean Sea.
It is an arc of land between this dry region that provide some of the bestfarming in Southwest Asia.

Question 2

What are the names of the two rivers framing Mesopotamia?

Answer 2

The Tigris and the Euphrates.

Question 3

What were the environmental challenges in this area?

Answer 3

Unpredictable flooding with periods of little to no rain.
No natural barriers for defense, like in Egypt or Masada.
Natural resources were limited and building materials, and other necessary items scarce.

Question 4

What was the main capital city of Mesopotamia?

Answer 4

Sumer

Question 5

Name three city-states in Mesopotamia that existed around 2500 B.C.

Answer 5

Ur, Kish, Babylon

Question 6

What were some solutions to the environmental challenges?

Answer 6

They dug irrigation ditches directly from the rivers to irrigate their fields this allowing them to produce good crops.
First defense they built city walls with bricks.
Traded with the people of the mountains and deserts.

Question 7

What are the five key characteristics that set the Sumarians apart from other civilizations?

Answer 7

1 advanced cities 
2 specialized workers
3 complex institutions 
4 record keeping
5 and improved technology

Question 8

Remember!

Answer 8

City-states shared the same cultures, but each had it’s own rulers and governments. (Similar to a small independent country)

Question 9

Sumer’s earliest governments were controlled by?

Answer 9

Religious leaders aka. Priests

Question 10

Who lead the city in a time of war?

Answer 10

A commander/war(military) leader

Question 11

Remember!

Answer 11

When wars became more frequent shortly after 3000 B.C. Sumarian priests and people have commanders permanent control of armies.

Question 12

Know!

Answer 12

Some military leaders became full time rulers and eventually passe ditches on to their heirs

Question 13

What is a dynasty?

Answer 13

A series if rulers coming from a single family.

Question 14

What were the Sumarians’ beliefs?

Answer 14

They practiced Polytheism.

One of their most important gods being Enlil the God of storms and air.

Question 15

What were the ranks in the Sumarian society?

Answer 15

Kings
Landholders/owners } all 3 were the top 1%
Priets

Wealthy merchants
Craftsmen.                                     }middle class
Fieldworkers/common laborers

Indebted slaves.         
Slaves.                     }Lowest class members

Question 16

Remember!

Answer 16

Social classes affected men AND women.
Sumarian women were relatively liberated/independent and could join and work up to any class if able to.

Question 17

What were some examples of Sumarian science and technology?

Answer 17

Supposedly: The wheel
The plow
And they were some of the first
to work with bronze
Arches, columns, ramps, # system in base 60 which later on became the system for measuring time, a system of writing

Question 18

Who was Sargon of Asad?

Answer 18

A conqueror who took control of northern and southern Mesopotamia thus creating the WORLD’S FIRST EMPIRE.

Question 19

When was Babylon made the capital of Mesopotamia?

Answer 19

Around 2000 B.C. (established by the Amorites during the reign if Hammurabi)

Question 20

What was Hammurabi’s Code?

Answer 20

A single uniform code of laws that would help unify diverse groups within the empire.

Question 21

Hiw many laws where in the Code?

Answer 21

282 specific laws

Question 22

Name a specific law in HC?

Answer 22

#8
If a man hostel in an ox a sheep a pig or a boat that belong to a temple or Palace he shall repay 30 times its cost if it belongs to a private citizen can you shall repay 10 times it's a thief cannot pay he should be put to death.