Civilizations and Peoples of the Fertile Crescent

Question 1

Fertile Crescent

Answer 1

A region of the Middle East that stretches in a large, crescent-shaped curve from the Persian Gulf to the Mediterranean Sea

Question 2

Mesopotamia

Answer 2

Wide, flat plain in between Tigris and Euphrates river in the present-day Iraq

Question 3

Irrigate

Answer 3

Supply water to

Question 4

City-state

Answer 4

An independent state consisting of a city and its surrounding territory

Question 5

Barter

Answer 5

Trading systems in which people exchange goods directly without using money

Question 6

Polytheism

Answer 6

The belief that there is more than one God

Question 7

Ziggurat

Answer 7

A pyramid shaped temple tower

Question 8

Cuneiform

Answer 8

A system of writing that uses triangular-shaped symbols to stand for words, ideas, or sounds

Question 9

Empire

Answer 9

State containing several countries or territories

Question 10

Hammurabi’s Code

Answer 10

A set of laws that governed life in the Babylonian empire, but did not treat all members of society equally….the pattern the laws followed was offense/punishment

Question 11

Rule of Law

Answer 11

The idea that all members of a society must obey the law

Question 12

Cavalry

Answer 12

Soldiers who fight while riding horses

Question 13

Standing Army

Answer 13

A permanent army of professional soldiers

Question 14

Tribute

Answer 14

Payment made to show loyalty to a stronger power

Question 15

Currency

Answer 15

Money that is used as a medium to exchange, usually bills or coins

Question 16

Stele

Answer 16

A carved slab of pillar that stands on end

Question 17

Alphabet

Answer 17

A small set of letters or symbols, each of which stands for a single sound; Phoenician alphabet was based on sounds

Question 18

Monotheism

Answer 18

The belief that there is only on God; Judaism began with this belief….it was called ethical monotheism….Which was very different than other religions of the ancient world

Question 19

Ethics

Answer 19

Ideas of right and wrong

Question 20

Torah

Answer 20

Consists of the first five books of the Hebrew Bible

Question 21

Covenant

Answer 21

A binding agreement

Question 22

Exodus

Answer 22

Escape of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt

Question 23

Prophet

Answer 23

A person believed to be chosen by God as a messenger to bring truth to the people

Question 24

Rabbi

Answer 24

Religious Teacher (Judaism)

Question 25

Talmud

Answer 25

Is a collection of oral teachings and commentaries about the teachings of Moses and Jewish law

Question 26

Sabbath

Answer 26

A weekly day of rest

Question 27

Judge

Answer 27

A leader who could rally the Israelites to defend their land

Question 28

Diaspora

Answer 28

Communities of jews scattered all over the world began around 587 BC when a Babylonians conquered Jerusalem

Question 29

Synagogue

Answer 29

A meeting place for study and prayer (Judaism)

Question 30

Sumer

Answer 30

The world’s first civilization, founded in Mesopotamia, which existed for over 3,000 years, was conquered because of fighting among the city-states

Question 31

Ten Commandments

Answer 31

A set of laws for responsible behavior, which, according to the Bible, were given to Moses by God. Including, “Don’t steal” & “Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy”

Question 32

Epic of Gilgamesh

Answer 32

A myth that was written in cuneiform as a poem telling the story of a legendary hero named Gilgamesh

Question 33

Babylon

Answer 33

Hammurabi’s capital city in his Mesopotamian Empire

Question 34

The Great Royal Road

Answer 34

Used to transport trade goods and tribute across the empire and fastest communication system

Question 35

Judeo-Christian tradition

Answer 35

A set of beliefs and ethics held in common by Judaism and Christianity

Question 36

Passover

Answer 36

Commemorates the Exodus and God freeing the Jews from slavery in Egypt

Question 37

Zoroastrianism

Answer 37

One of the first monotheistic religions, which deemed that the universe is in a struggle between good and evil