Ch 5 Was Ancient Sumer a Civilization? Flashcards
Social Structure
The way a civilization or society is organized; ex: Upper class, middle class, lower class
Technology
the use of tools and other inventions for practical purposes
Culture
A characteristic of civilization that includes the beliefs and behaviors of a society or a group of people
Cuneiform
type of writing created by ancient Sumerians that uses wedge-shaped characters
Civilization
A culture marked by the developments in arts, sciences, government, and social structure.
Two important Sumerian inventions to aid in farming
a complex irrigation system and the plow
Chariot
A two-wheeled vehicle pulled by a horse
Scribe
A person who writes
Status
Importance
Lyre
wooden instrument, similar to a harp, made of a sound box and strings often decorated with precious stones and carvings made of horn which showed how much they Sumerians valued music
zigguart
Ancient Mesopotamian temple tower
arch
an upside-down U or V shaped structure that supports weight above it, as in a doorway
pictograph
a symbol that stands for an object
Seven Characteristics of Civilivization
* Writing * the Arts * Religion * Technology * Social Structure * stable Food supply * Government
This clay tablet is evidence of which characteristics of civilization?
Writing: Cuneiform
Social Structure: Different people received different amounts of Barley
Stable Food Supply: Sumerians grew Barley and kept records of it
Government: Leaders determined how much each person would receive
This statue of a married couple shows which characteristics of civilization?
Religion: this was left at a religious shrine to honor the gods
Arts: It was made/carved out of stone and decorated with semi-precious stones
This impression from a stone seal is evidence of which characteristics of civilization?
Stable Food Supply: one god is using the Sumerian invention of the plow, a tool to aid in farming
Religion: shows two of the gods Sumerians worshipped
the Arts: someone (an artisan) had to carve the stone seal used to make the impression
Technology: it shows the Sumerian invention of the plow
Writing: there is cuneiform writing on the impression
This Clay Seal shows which characteristics of civilization?
Social Structure: Shows there was an upper class (king) and other important officials (governers) to advise him
Government: the King is appointing a governor to oversee part of the city-state
Writing: There is cuneiform writing on the clay seal
This Copper Statue shows which characteristics of civilization?
Social Structure: Shows the Sumerians had a military who would’ve been made up of middle class and led by the king
Government: there was a military and led by the king and other high ranking officials
Technology: Sumerians invented the wheel and the chariot to use in battle
This Gold Cup is evidence of which characteristics of civilization?
Stable Food Supply: Sumerians must have had enough food for all people since the upper class was having banquets
Social Structure: There were different classes of people in ancient Sumer; the upper class would have used this cup
The Arts: a metalsmith or artisan would have created this cup
This statue of the king with a basket on his head shows which characteristics of civilization?
Social Structure: There was a king (upper class) so there would be people in the middle class and lower class as well.
Government: One of the kings duties was to oversee the building of temples for the city-state
Religion: the bricks would be for building a temple to honor the gods
Writing: there is cuneiform writing on the statue explaining its purpose
This picture of a Lyre shows which characteristics of civilization?
Social Structure: musicians would have been from the middle or lower classes and would have played music at banquets for the upper class
Government: said that it would have been listened to by the queen
The Arts: music is one of the arts; the instrument itself shows they appreciated music because it is very beautifully decorated
