Kevin’s Cards about Mesopotamia Flashcards
What were some things that were developed in Mesopotamia
Agriculture, a system of writing, the wheel, and written law
Since Prehistoric People didn’t leave any written records what did historians and archaeologists have to do
Prehistoric people didn’t leave any written records; therefore, archaeologists and historians must piece together information about the past.
What do historians and archaeologists study
They studied human fossils and artifacts such as tools, jewelry, or pottery
Are historians and archaeologists investigations exact
Their investigations aren’t exact but results are fascinating
History Definition
The study of change over time
Historians Definition
The people who study our human odyssey, who try to understand what happened what happened in the past and why
What are the 3 ways historians learn about the past
- By studying written records, such as letters, diaries, and books
- By looking at objects from the past, such as weapons, paintings, or tools (artifacts)
- By listening to “Oral Histories” spoken accounts by people who lived at that time
Evidence comes from which Latin words
Evidence comes from Latin words meaning, “What has been seen”
How are Historians and archaeologists similar and different
Historians and archaeologists both solve mysteries of ages past and they use evidence, clues from the past. But focus on different kinds of clues
What do Archaeologists do
Archaeologists are the diggers. They burrow down into the Earth’s surface and scientifically study artifacts. Artifacts are objects that people made and left behind such as tools, pots, jewelry, musical instruments, and remains of ancient buildings.
What are the 3 things a society must have to become a civilization
- They must have a surplus of food
- They must have a division of labor
- They must have built cities
What was the first clue to the mystery of Sumer
Old written stories about ancient peoples
Did the old stories lead straight to the Sumerians
It didn’t lead to them
Some of the old stories that were about who
The Babylonians
The Babylonians were named after what
Their greatest city Babylon
Where was Babylon built
It was built beside the Euphrates River
What was the 2nd clue to finding Sumer
Mysterious marks
What was the 3rd clue to finding Sumer
Tells and Tablets
What was the 4th clue to finding Sumer
A key to strange writing
What were all the clues to finding Sumer
Stories, writing, mounds containing the remains of cities, clay tablets, cities built upon cities, and various artifacts
Culture Definition
A people’s whole way of life
What does culture include
The things they do and the ideas that guide them
What are some aspects of culture
Habits and customs, their religion, education, their art and music, laws, ideas of right and wrong, and lessons at school, church, and communication
What were some things Sumerians learned that was ahead of their time
They figured out how to control the yearly flooding of the Tigris and the Euphrates Rivers. They built thick earth walls, or levees, to hold back the spring floods. They also dug canals to carry water to the fields in the fall and winter.
How did the Sumerians achieve all their advancements
By realizing they need to work together
Who and where was the wheel built
The wheel was invented in Sumer and Sumerians were excellent builders
Which materials did Sumer lack
Metals, minerals, tall trees, and stone
What is known as the earliest form of trade
Barter
What is Barter
Barter is the earliest form of trade and it is when you trade without money
For a time the what was the medium of change or currency
Barley
What later became the currency
Silver
What was the first metal currency
Silver
Why was silver precious
Because it was scarce
How was the social classes like in Sumer
There were only some rich and many poor
What surplus products did Sumer have
Grain (wheat and barley) and cloth
What product did Sumer want from other places
Precious stones, metals, timber, and gold
What luxuries did upper-class Sumerians have
Feasts, queen’s cape, jewelry, sculpture, and headdresses
List 3 examples of specialization, or division of labor, in Sumer
Sailor, jewelry, and craftsmen
True or False: Any object from the past that was made by humans or by nature is called an artifact
False
True or False: Written accounts, objects, and buildings are examples of the types of evidence that historians and archaeologists study to explain the past.
True
Who would be most likely to analyze a tablet with cuneiform to determine what goods were traded by the merchants of Ur?
Historian
Who would be most likely to examine the remains of clay jars to determine what they once held?
Archaeologist
Who would be most likely to uncover and remove a piece of bronze at an excavation
Archaeologist
Who would be most likely to study a stone carving to determine if Sumerians used slaves
Historian
True or False: Examples of artifacts that an archaeologist might use to draw conclusions about people of the past include tools, pieces of pottery, and the remains of buildings.
True
