Ch 4 the Rise Of Sumerian City-States

Question 0

Problem: there was an uncontrolled water supply on the plains. This means that they couldn’t control the floods & the droughts.

Answer 0

Solution: The Sumerians created irrigation systems with levees, canals, dams, and reservoirs. This allowed them to direct water to certain places to be stored or used at their convenience.

Question 1

Irrigation System

Answer 1

A way of supplying land with water. Some examples are levees, canals, & reservoirs

Question 2

Mesopotamia

Answer 2

Located in modern-day Iraq. In ancient times, the geographic area located between the Tigris & Euphrates Rivers.

Question 3

City-State

Answer 3

An early city that was like a small, independent country with its own laws and government

Question 4

Sumer

Answer 4

An area in the southern part of Mesopotamia where cities first appeared

Question 5

Four key problems facing Ancient Mesopotamians

Answer 5

1. Food Shortages in the foothills of the Zagros Mts
2. An uncontrolled water supply on the river plains
3. Difficulties building & maintaining irrigation systems to serve the needs of several villages at once
4. Attacks by neighboring communities

Question 6

PROBLEM: Food shortages in the foothills of the Zagros Mts.

Answer 6

SOLUTION: People moved out of the foothills and onto the river plains between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers (Sumer).

Question 7

PROBLEM: An uncontrolled water supply in the river valley. Either too much water or too little water to maintain their crops.

Answer 7

SOLUTION: Creation of irrigation systems including building levees, canals, dams & reservoirs to control the water supply.

Question 8

Mesopotamia is located between these two rivers

Answer 8

The Tigris River and the Euphrates River

Question 9

Silt

Answer 9

Fine particles of rock and mud

Question 10

PROBLEM: Difficulties building and maintaining a complex irrigation system; irrigation systems were clogging with silt/dirt.

Answer 10

SOLUTION: Cooperate with other villages to clean and maintain irrigation systems

Question 11

These are two reasons why the people moved from the foothills of the Zagros Mts and down to the River plains

Answer 11

1. The hills made it difficult for farming

2. Their population was growing and there wasn’t enough food for everyone

Question 12

PROBLEM: Cities were fighting over the use of water.

Answer 12

SOLUTION: Sumerians built mud-brick walls and dug moats around their cities to help keep their cities safe from attacks.