Chapter 4 Flashcards
City-state
An independent nation made up of a city and the land around it
Silt
Small particles of fertile soil left after floods
Polytheism
The belief in more than one god
Ziggurat
A pyramid shaped tower with a temple at the top
Cuneiform
A Sumerian writing system that used wedge shaped marks made in soft clay
Scribe
A person who copies or writes out documents; often a record keeper
Epic
A long poem that tells the story of a hero
Civilization
A group of people who have a high level or culture and order
What does a civilization have?
Science, art, government, values, and beliefs
When did the first people stay in the Mesopotamia?
Around 7000 BC
The first people in the Mesopotamia __________.
Hunted
Why is the date 4000 BC important?
That is when people began farmi.
Where did the people farm?
Between the two rivers (Tigris and Euphrates)
What created large amounts of surpluses?
Irrigation
What did each city state have?
A government
What do historians believe surrounded city states?
Large walls
Each city state _____________________.
Claimed one god as its own
The Upper class includes
Kings, priests, Warriors, and government workers
The people in the upper class were….
Powerful and wealthy
The middle class includes:
Farmers, fishers, and artisans.
The middle class ________________.
Was the largest group.
The lower class includes:
Enslaved people.
The lower class_____________.
Had no money and no power.
Sumerian city states were……
- ruled by a king
- had its own government
- grew its own crops
- worshiped many gods but claimed one as their own
- formed alliances with other city states
- owned surrounding land