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
True or False: By examining artifacts or documents carefully, archaeologists and historians can nearly always draw specific and exact conclusions about people of the past.
False
What is cuneiform
A Sumerian form of writing
How did archaeologists discover that people of ancient Mesopotamia built on top of earlier ancient cities
By digging deeper into the tels of southern Mesopotamia
How was Sir Leonard Woolley able to surmise that Queen Puabi’s court probably drank from a cup that held a sleeping drug
By piecing together clues from the grave pit that he excavated
Which clues helped archaeologists and historians document the existence of Sumer
Bits of pottery and clay, ancient writing, and mounds containing the remains of cities
True or False: In the village of Moon there are three weavers, two bakers, and a jeweler. The village has a granary as well as an open air market where most residents buy their food. The village is an example of a society with a division of labor
True
True or False: The men of the village of Elk hunt almost every day while the women search for water, gather berries and nuts, and prepare the food they have found each day. The village is an example of a society with a surplus of food.
False
True or False: The people of Sumer planted wheat and irrigated their fields in order to have a surplus of food
True
True or False: Sumerian city-states were ruled by councils elected by the citizens
False (ruled by kings and queens)
Sumerian cities were characterized by what
Some narrow, unpaved streets, protective walls, and homes made of mud-bricks
True or False: The Sumerians began trading because they were curious about cultures in other lands
False
True or False: Trade led to many changes in Sumerian society
True
True or False: Trade was possible because the Sumerians had developed a complex division of labor
True
What did the Sumerians invent
The wheel
Why did merchants decide to use money instead of bartering
- Money was easier to carry and handle than goods.
- Money was accepted anywhere and could be used again.
- It was difficult to exchange the exact value of goods in barter
True or False: The wheel is an example of technology that was developed for one purpose and then adapted for many other purposes
True
What do Historians do
Historian:
• Studies written records
• Listens to oral histories
• Tries to decide why a temple was built
What do Archaeologists do
Archaeologist:
• Studies artifacts scientifically
• Digs in the earth to find clues
• Tries to decide where a temple was built
Which god is responsible for rain
Enki
Which god is responsible for a long winter
Nanna
Which god is responsible for hurricane winds
Enlil
Which god is responsible for fertile soil
Ninhursag
Why did the Sumerians indenting the forces of nature with individual gods
There are several natural occurrences that Sumerians couldn’t explain
How did the Sumerians honor their gods
They carved statues of their powerful deities from stone, built temples, and by worshipping them
What did Sumerians believe about human responsibilities to gods
Sumerians believed that humans were slaves of the gods. They believed they were created to be servants of the gods destined to work hard in order to free the gods from from having work.(To keep them happy)
Since the Sumerians couldn’t explain things that happened in nature they decided what
They decided all forces of nature were alive. They worshipped the force of nature
The Sumerians religious world were filled with what
The world were filled with gods, as well with countless demons, spirits, and ghosts
What are Deities
Gods and Goddesses
What became an important part of people’ life’s in Sumer
Religious ceremonies became a very important part of people’s lives. They were a way to convince the gods that humans were serving them as they should
Did people no whether or not their actions would please the gods
No
Each Sumerian city had their own what
Deities
Do historians know how to translate ziggurat
No
Enil God Definition
“Lord Wind”, the god of the air. He was the son of An and Ninhursag
Shamash God Definition
The Sumerian sun god, Shamash was also known as “Judge of the heavens and earth”
Enki God Definition
“Lord Earth”, Enki was the god of all that was beneath the ground and supplied fresh water
Ninhursag Goddess Definition
“Mother Earth” Ninhursag was mother of all the gods and living things. Ninhursag helped create man from clay so the gods wouldn’t have to work
An or Ana God Definition
The Sumerian god of the sky, An was also known as the father of the Gods. “He led the heavenly assembly”
Inanna or Ishtar Goddess Definition
Goddess of love and war, Inanna was the most powerful and fearsome Sumerian goddess
Nanna God Definition
The Sumerian moon-god, Nanna was called “Lord of Destiny”. He was the son of Enlil and the father of Inanna
What is a Ziggurat
A stair-stepped temple built by Sumerians. (Hill Temples)
Describe the Ziggurats of Sumer
Each city in Sumer built a temple to honor the deities that protected the city. The temples were made of mud brick. They were also painted and gems
What was the significant of the placement of the temples
The temples were built on hills or high platforms to protect them from floods. The weather cities built the highest terraces for their temples
What role did temples play in Sumerian Culture
Sumerians believed the gods lived in the temples. The people believed the gods communicated their wishes to the priests in the ziggurats
Who developed the first form of writing
The Sumerians
By 3500 B.C. the Sumerians did what
By 3500 B.C., Sumerian people or at least, those few who could write, could leave a lasting record of their thoughts.
As civilizations grew what did rulers, priests, and merchants need
A place to keep all the facts and figures beside their own heads
What did Sumerians invent for numbers
Sumerians invented symbols for numbers
What 2 numerals did Sumerians base their number system
The Sumerians based their number system on 2 numerals- 2 numerals- 10 and 60
What is our number system called
Because we use 10 as a base, ours is called a “decimal system” (from the Latin decem, which mean “ten”)
What is the Sumerians number system called
Sumerians chose 60 as their base for calculations and had a “sexagesimal” system
Why did Sumerians chose 60 as their base
They most likely chose 60 as their base since it can be divided evenly many different ways which make calculations quite simple
What are some similarities between our arithmetic system and the Sumerians
Even though our system of arithmetic is different from the Sumerians, we still use some of their ideas. For example, a circle, we divide hours into 60 mins, and we divide minutes into 60 secs
What have archaeologist found on clay tablets
Archaeologist have found clay tablets explaining how to solve complex mathematical equations
How long did it take the Sumerians to develop their writing system
The Sumerian writing system took more than 100s of year to develop
What was the first step in Sumerian writing
Picture writing was the first step, but this way of writing was confusing since one picture had many meanings
What do Scholars call the Sumerians wedge-shaped writing
Cuneiform
What does Cuneiform mean
Wedge-shape
Who were the Scribes
Scribes were a group of people who knew how to read and write and helped the priests and kings to read and send things. (Keep track of things)
What were Cylinder Seals and how were they used
Cylinder Seals were used for people to sign their signature even if they didn’t know how to write. Every important Sumerian had one curved with a particular pattern and when they had to sign something they would roll it over the wet clay tablet and that was their signature
Cuneiform Definition
An ancient Sumerian form of writing that used wedged shaped marks
Scribe Definition
One of an elite class of scholars whose main role role in society was reading and writing
Writing allowed rulers to do what
To make decrees
Writing allowed priests to do what
Record the exploits of the gods
Writing allowed merchants to do what
Keep track of business, make contracts, write orders, and inquire about trade
Writing allowed knowledge to be passed to who
Writing allowed knowledge to be passed easier along generations
What type of pens did Sumerians use
Reed pens
What geographic changes contributed to the fall of Sumer culture
Increased irrigation that caused salinization ; population growth ; expansion of city- states ;changes in political boundaries
How long did the Sumerian Civilization last
Approximately 1,300 years (3000 B.C. to 1700 B.C.)
Salinization Definition
A buildup of salts in the soil caused by long periods of irrigation and flooding
